By Carolyn Hudson, Registered Dietitian, Midwest Dairy Association
Breakfast is the best way to start your day. It’s important to understand the myths and facts about breakfast now that the new school year has begun. We all want to help put the best student possible in that school chair each day. For more background about why I’m passionate about breakfast, check out my Dairy Makes Sense blog post: Do You Want a Better Brain?
Breakfast: MYTH or FACT?
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
FACT: Breakfast helps break the fast from the night before and kick starts your metabolism, helps meet your nutrient needs for the day, helps you maintain a healthy weight, improves academic and cognitive performance and may even reduce your risk of a heart attack. More than 60 percent of teenagers skip breakfast (and plenty of adults, too!).
Take a look my colleague’s back to school breakfast party; she has great ideas to kick off going back to school. Another opportunity is to encourage your children to eat breakfast at school. School meals are transforming and are good for your children. Students at a Rochester Public School in Minnesota developed an Oatmeal Crème Brulee recipe. It’s yummy! Schools offer breakfast a number of ways: in the cafeteria, in the classroom, grab and go or second chance. If your child does not eat at home encourage them to eat at school.
Breakfast: MYTH or FACT?
Breakfast at school is only for kids on free and reduced meal programs.
MYTH: Breakfast at school is available to all students. No matter how your school provides breakfast to students, everyone can eat at school. Childhood hunger is a serious problem. One out of five American kids struggle with hunger, and 80% of those who see hunger say kids are coming to school hungry at least once a week. Only about half of the students that are eligible for a free or reduced school breakfast participate. Children should not go hungry; encourage all students to eat breakfast at school.
Want to learn more? Here’s a link: School Breakfast Makes Sense for School Success. Enjoy your breakfast!
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