As summer comes to a close, kids are bracing for their inevitable return to school. Their days of sleeping in and relaxing will be over. In their place will be stress-filled, drowsy mornings that lead to long lectures. In the chaos of getting ready in the morning, it can be easy to forget what is arguably the most important meal of the day.
Everyone has heard that breakfast is the most important meal, and many studies have proven that this is true. Breakfast is the first meal a person has after roughly 8 hours of fasting. In order for your body to wake up and be able to focus on anything, it needs energy. Breakfast helps refill your energy and gives you a jumpstart for the rest of the day.
Eating breakfast in the morning, which should occur sometime within the first two hours after waking up, has many benefits. It can improve memory and concentration, which is very important for kids who are heading off to a day of learning. Eating breakfast can also make us happier, so you aren’t feeling hangry, and can reduce stress. All of this can combine to mean better grades for students.
Growing children need a lot of energy to stay active, and they can get a lot of that required energy from having breakfast. It is estimated that boys between the ages of 7 and 10 should consume roughly 1970 calories per day. Girls within the same age range should consume about 1740 calories per day.
As hard as it can be to fit in, in the early hours before school, it is important to always make time for breakfast. Doing so can put everyone in a better mood and help your kids be more attentive and prepared for the school day.