Photo © Lise Gagne
You've heard many times that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That's probably true - at least a healthy breakfast will get your day started the right way. That's true for both adults and kids.
Your brain needs to refuel after a good night's sleep. A few studies show kids perform better on cognitive tests when they eat breakfast. So letting your kid leave home in the morning without eating smething is a bad idea, unless your school serves breakfast (and many schools do).
Does the type of breakfast matter? One study showed kids who ate oatmeal did the best on mental tests, but I think any breakfast that includes some whole grains, protein and some fruit will work just fine. A bowl of cereal (preferably not the overly sweetened variety) with low fat milk and a glass of orange juice is good. You can add a little more protein by adding a hard boiled egg, or a slice of toast with peanut butter.
So what if your kid hates eating breakfast? Well, it depends why. If your son doesn't like breakfast foods, it's fine to make a sandwich or eat some soup. There's nothing magical about traditional (and often sugary or greasy) breakfast fare.
Some kids may just not be hungry when they wake up. But they need to eat too. Maybe just a hard-boiled egg or a single slice of toast. And send a snack along with them to eat at mid morning. Something like granola, or nuts and fresh fruit or even a protein bar will keep their brains fueled until lunch time.
Breakfast Ideas
I think that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.