For kids, any breakfast is better than no breakfast. After a long night's sleep, kids need to refuel for the day ahead. A hungry tummy makes concentration and focusing at school and on the playground difficult. Without adequate nutrition, blood sugar levels drop, leaving the brain sluggish and the body low on energy. Kid's who eat breakfast may do better in school and normally have a better overall diet.
Physical Benefits
Having breakfast each morning gives kids the energy they need and avoid a mid-morning slump. Dr. Debby Demory-Luce, a registered dietitian with the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, explains that children who consume breakfast tend to be less irritable and fidgety. They also have fewer visits to the nurse's office. She notes that there are fewer complaints of dizziness, tiredness and stomach aches as well.
Memory
A 1998 article in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" looked at three studies conducted on students that had not consumed breakfast and their ability to recall information. These students were compared to other students who had eaten breakfast. Taking into consideration all three studies, the researchers concluded that eating breakfast positively affects memory, probably due to adequate glucose levels.
Nutrition
Breakfast is called the most important meal of the day for a reason. Kids who skip breakfast are up to five times less likely to meet their daily allowance of vitamins and minerals, according to a 2000 study in the "Journal of Adolescent Health." Over 700 grade nine students' breakfast habits were analyzed. Of those students who skipped breakfast, it found that the rest of the meals were higher in fat and carbohydrates and lower in vitamins A, B-6, D, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, zinc and riboflavin.
Obesity
Children who miss their morning meal may have an increased appetite later in the day that may lead to overeating. A look at several studies by Harborview Medical Center, Children's Hospital and Medical Center and Public Health for Seattle and King County, led them to offer several conclusions in regard to the link of not eating breakfast and obesity in children. A higher incidence of obesity is evident in kids who skip breakfast, obesity is seen less in children who do eat a morning meal and the type of foods eaten at breakfast may be important to weight gain.
References
- Family Education: Breakfast Benefits
- Baylor College of Medicine: Hunger Hinders School Performance
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Breakfast, Blood Glucose, and Cognition; D.Benton, et al.; April 1998
- "Journal of Adolescent Health"; Breakfast Consumption With and Without Vitamin-mineral Supplement use Favorably Impacts Daily Nutrient Intake of Ninth-grade Students; Theresa A. Nicklas, et al.; November 2000
- University of Washington: Breakfast and Child Obesity: What's the Link?
