A USDA Nationwide Food Consumption Survey found that nearly 25 percent of adults regularly skip breakfast. Without a nutritious meal in the morning many people, including children, may find themselves getting off to a sluggish start.
Energy from Calories
University of Illinois Extension nutrition and wellness educator, Martha Winter, explains that the glucose your cells need for energy is obtained from food. Extra glucose is stored in the liver to be used as needed, but when breakfast is skipped these stores are used up by mid-morning. Eating breakfast provides fuel for the morning and maintains this storage form of quick energy until lunch time.
Nutrients
As one of three daily meals, breakfast should contribute about one-third of the day's nutrition in the form of vitamins, minerals, protein, and other essential nutrients.
Improvement in Daily Diet
Findings from a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition showed lower daily intakes of fat and cholesterol in adults who consumed breakfast cereal in the morning. The University of Illinois Extension reports teenagers who eat a healthy breakfast also have healthier diets overall.
Benefits for Children
Julia E. Salomon, a program specialist at the University of Wisconsin Extension, says children who eat breakfast do better in school academically as well as behaviorally.
Keeping Weight Gain at Bay
Mayo Clinic dietitian Katherine Zeratsky explains that prolonging the overnight fast can increase the body's fat storage and promote weight gain. Skipping breakfast increases the chances of developing obesity. Eating breakfast helps prevent overeating later in the day.
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