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Every parent has been through this: its early in the morning, you’re running late, the kids are going to miss the school bus, they haven’t eaten yet and insist they are not hungry. Nutrition is important but do our kids need to eat breakfast, even when they say they don’t want it? The quick answer is yes. Generally you shouldn’t force a child to eat when they do not feel hungry as this can lead to unhealthy eating habits. Breakfast is the exception to this rule. Every child should be having a nutritious breakfast every day. It is widely accepted that adults need breakfast to kick start their day. It is even more important for children. Kids need to eat. Most families eat dinner early, 6pm or 7 pm. This means many children do not eat for up to 12 hours. Physiologically, kids are growing and therefore need a high level of nutrients to support this growth, without it growth slows down and susceptibility to illness increases. Children who skip breakfast have an even longer wait to get necessary nutrients. Over night our metabolism slows down to conserve energy. Eating breakfast restarts the body’s metabolism. When a child skips breakfast their body burns fewer calories because of their slowed metabolism. This can cause them to be sluggish and slow. By lunchtime children are so hungry they tend to eat too much, leading to an increase in the calories consumed. If skipping breakfast becomes a regular occurrence it can lead to weight gain. Put simply, when a child skips breakfast it can lead to: • Lower energy levels, • Less calories burnt, • Interrupted concentration, • Overeating and • Irritability. Eating a healthy breakfast helps kids to concentrate better in school. When food is digested it is changed into energy, that energy is sent to the brain to help it perform better. Without breakfast the brain can be sluggish, making it difficult for your children to focus on their lessons. There is research to suggest children who eat a regular breakfast: • Have improved mood and behavior, • Have reduced hyperactivity, • Learn better with improved concentration, attention span and memory. Even though children may claim they do not need to eat breakfast, as parents we know better. Children need food. It is important to help them grow and to help them learn. They may not feel hungry but their brains and bodies need nutrients. With the current problems of obesity it is important to teach children healthy eating practices. The lesson of a healthy breakfast every day is good place to start. A good nutritious breakfast helps kids to start their day on the right foot. Time is short in the morning but trying to speed the breakfast process by rushing kids through a meal of sugary cereals or fried food isn’t the answer. These foods promote mid morning cravings. Try fruits, oats, toast, boiled eggs, or even whole wheat pancakes instead.
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