I have to admit that transitioning back to school after the 11 day break was a bit difficult in our household. We got out of the early bedtime routine and found ourselves sleeping later and later (7 am is late in our house). Since coming back to school, I am hearing more and more that students are not eating breakfast for one reason or another. We have had several students end up leaving class because they were feeling nauseous, only to find out that they didn't eat breakfast and were able to return to PE feeling much better after having a snack in the office.
Breakfast is a great way to give the body the fuel it needs after a long period of time without food. Students that skip breakfast tend to feel tired, restless, and are less likely to participate in physical activity. Often students that skip breakfast see a decline in their mood and energy by midmorning and can complain of stomach/hunger pains.
In a perfect world it would be easy to sit down to a healthy and balanced breakfast each morning. However, in reality, it is difficult to get a healthy breakfast prepared when you are trying to get everyone out the door, on time, with all of the things that they need to have. When stocking the pantry try to include items that would help make mornings easier (Be a label reader to make sure it isn't full of sugar). As a rule of thumb, encourage students to eat a breakfast with some carbohydrates, protein and fiber, along with a healthy drink.
Good sources of these nutrients include:
Carbohydrates: whole-grain cereals, brown rice, whole-grain breads and muffins, fruits, vegetables
Protein: low-fat or nonfat dairy products, lean meats, eggs, nuts (including nut butters), seeds, and cooked dried beans
Fiber: whole-grain breads, waffles, and cereals, brown rice, bran, and other grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts.
If breakfast foods just aren’t tempting your child’s taste buds, warming up leftovers from the previous night’s healthy dinner is always an option.
During this time of resolutions, let’s resolve to make sure our children get the fuel they need for their brain and body to give them a healthy start to the school day.
