Breakfast…….A Great Way to Start the Day !

Breakfast….A Great Way to Start the Day Children who eat breakfast in the morning feel better throughout the day  Children who are hungry are more likely to visit the school nurse’s office with stomach ache and headache complaints resulting in missed time in the classroom.

Breakfast…..A Great Way to Start the Day Children who eat breakfast in the morning show improved academic performance !  Children who eat breakfast show improved attention, memory and cognitive function.  Children perform better on tests of vocabulary and matching figures after eating breakfast.  Children who eat breakfast score higher in math, work faster, and make fewer mistakes in their work.

Breakfast….A Great Way to Start the Day  Children who eat breakfast show improved concentration, alertness, and comprehension.

Breakfast….A Great Way to Start the Day Children who skip breakfast in the morning may struggle academically  Children who are hungry are more likely to be hyperactive and struggle with behavior and attention problems

 Many studies show that teens experiencing hunger are more likely to be suspended from school and have difficulty getting along with other children

Breakfast….A Great Way to Start the Day Children who eat breakfast in the morning tend to have an overall healthier diet !!  Studies also show that children who skip breakfast often consume more calories throughout the day and are more likely to be overweight.  Children who skip breakfast are so hungry by lunch time that they tend to overeat through the day and choose high calorie foods for snacks.

Breakfast….A Great Way to Start the Day Breakfast Foods for Brain Power  Choose foods that are high in whole grains and fiber ……these include foods like whole grain waffles, cereals, muffins and breads.  Choose foods that are high in protein…..these include low fat dairy products like milk and yogurt, lean meats, eggs, beans, and nuts (including nut butters).  Choose fresh fruits and vegetables……these include bananas, apples, oranges, cantaloupe, carrots, peppers

Breakfast….A Great Way to Start the Day

Participate in the School Breakfast Program…..  Breakfast is offered every day from 8:20 – 8:40 am in the school cafeteria for all students  A wide variety of healthy, nutritious foods are offered each day  Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch automatically qualify for free or reduced breakfast  Breakfast Cost…………..$1.00 reduced cost………..30

Breakfast….A Great Way to Start the Day  Children can join their friends for a happy and nutritious start to the day

Breakfast….A Great Way to Start the Day ….Or Make Breakfast at home  Stock your kitchen with healthy breakfast choices  Make the morning go smoothly by getting things ready at night….plan breakfast, set dishes out, cut up fruit and vegetables  Have “eat-on-the-run” items available for days you may run late (fresh fruit, granola bars, yogurt, cereal in zip-loc bags, 100% juice boxes)  Set the alarm early enough to allow time for breakfast

Breakfast….A Great Way to Start the Day  Give the whole family a healthy start to the day

References Clark, M., Fox, M., (2009, “Nutritional Quality of diets of US public school children and the role of the school meal programs”. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 109(2 Supplement), S44-S56. Cook, J., Jeng, K, (2013), “Child Food Insecurity: The Economic Impact on our Nation”, Feeding America Food Research and Action Center (FRAC),(2014), “Breakfast for Learning” ng.pdf ng.pdf

Morris, C., Courtney,A., Bryant, C., McDermott, R., (2010), “ Grab N Go Breakfast at School: Observation from a Pilot Program”, American Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 43(3): No Kid Hungry; Share Our Strength (2013), Breakfast Changes Lives – Ensuring No Kid Goes Hungry in the Classroom, Politt, E., Cueto, S., Jocoby, E., (1998), “Fasting and Cognition in Well and Undernourished Schoolchildren”, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 67 (4): S.