
Breakfast is Vital for Growing Children - Important Reasons
By Andrew Loh
Morning meal in form of a full breakfast is very vital for your
growing children. Consumption of breakfast is one of the most
important eating habits that your child should adapt before going to
school. Latest research suggests that a healthy breakfast can
beneficially impact the way your child grows and builds up his or
her intellect and intelligence. Studies conducted so far indicate
that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and your child
needs wholesome breakfast to stay fit and healthy throughout the
school year.
Breakfast provides a series of benefits and advantages to your kid
like:
#1: It can provide much needed nourishment needed for better
academic performance and achievements. Children who do not have
breakfast will be more tired, look insipid, irritable and energy
less throughout the day. Loss of energy and vitality means
heightened aggression and hyperactivity that may eventually lead to
academic failures. On the other hand, children who eat regular
breakfast will be more agile and active. They will also have a
better attitude accompanied with a relaxed outlook
#2: Breakfast can help your child to score better grades in the
school. Recent research suggests that children who eat breakfast
everyday will perform better in math tests and other IQ tests. Apart
from academics, they will also fare better in a score of other
non-academic activities like play, sports, extra-curricular
activities, music and board games.
#3: Regular breakfast will also help you child to attend his or her
classes on a regular basis. It is a common fact that children who
skip breakfast always complain about stomach ache and pains. Normal
breakfast will help children maintain better health as well.
#4: With daily breakfast, your child will accumulate all the
necessary nutrients and growth factors required for optimal growth
of body and mind. Children who eat breakfast will gain invaluable
ingredients like vitamins and minerals that have the ability to
prevent a number of nutritional deficiencies. A typical breakfast
contains sufficient quantities of fiber, calcium and folic acid.
#5: Breakfast can help your child control weight. Daily breakfast
can help streamline your child's meal pattern and eating habits.
Childhood obesity is a recurring problem that occurs because of
eating junk foods and high energy-high fat snacks.
Reasons for your child not eating breakfast:
Your child may not like to eat breakfast because of a number of
reasons like:
Here are some tips that help you to create healthy eating habits in
your young children:
-
Get your child's school pack and baggage ready by the previous
night so that he or she will have an ample time for the morning
breakfast.
-
Wake up early in the morning (at least 15 minutes before) so that
you can prepare a good breakfast for your child.
-
Never ever allow your child to watch TV or play video games early
in the morning.
-
To save time, pick menu that does not require more time to
prepare. You can stick with items like fresh and canned foods, milk,
cheese, boiled eggs and cereals.
-
Dried food, nuts, peanut butter, dried fruits and breakfast bars
with low fat and calories are also good for your child.
-
Skimmed milk with slices of fruits and breakfast cereals could
form a good breakfast.
-
If your child hates breakfast, you can give him or her more formal
foods like chicken munchies and small bits meat balls.
If possible set a schedule that requires all family members to have
breakfast together at least once in a week preferably on Sundays.
Make it a cardinal rule that asks every family member to eat a
particular type of breakfast at least once in a week. Remember that
your children try to imitate you and if they see that you are not
eating breakfast, they are most likely to follow your behavior. You
may need to set an example to show that breakfast could be nice idea
after all, both for you and your family. You can also encourage and
cajole your children to eat breakfast by asking them to help you in
planning the entire week's breakfast menu and recipe. You can also
request them to help you in preparing their breakfast and set the
table for the morning course of a nutritious meal.
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