Why is Breakfast the Most Important Meal of the Day?
Does your child eat breakfast in every morning? Eating a balanced breakfast contributes towards benefits, both mentally and physically, for your child. It is actually a vital life lesson that will make them aware of the importance of nutrition throughout their lives.
Breakfast and its Impact on a Child’s Health
Research shows that children who skip breakfast on a regular basis fall short on the recommended essential nutrients, according to an article in Reuters. Kids who skip breakfast are most likely to be deficient in iron, folate, calcium and iodine. Calcium and Vitamin D, in particular, can be found in high concentration only in milk, a regular ingredient in breakfast recipes for kids. So, skipping a glass of milk in the morning with breakfast can lead to nutrient deficiency.
High carbohydrate content in breakfast is what will keep them going throughout the day and also keep them full till lunch time. An article published in the Journal of the University of Illinois talks about children overeating at lunch time to compensate for the lack of breakfast, which leads to obesity. Childhood obesity is rampant today, in an age where they have ready access to sugary drinks and junk food.
Breakfast increases the likelihood of kids participating in physical activities too. Without breakfast, kids may feel tired, restless or irritable. They need to refuel after abstinence from food during the 8 to 12 hours of sleep each night. Kids’ moods and energy can drop drastically by midmorning, if they do not have a morning meal.
So, a healthy breakfast will not only prevent obesity, but also uplift your kids’ energy, mood and focus.
A report in The Guardian warns of chronic diseases in adulthood for children who miss morning meals. Obesity is not the only issue here. We are also talking about poor cardio-respiratory fitness, bone and muscle development and a host of stomach issues.
A blog article on Spark states that kids could be included in making family grocery lists so that they can choose their own healthy snacks. By doing this, they will have more ownership over their food, and that will make them interested in breakfast recipes for kids too. Another way could be to make the milk tastier by adding Enfagrow A+, a milk powder fortified with an essential Omega-3 fatty acid, called DHA.
DHA helps in developing the four critical areas of the brain, intellectual, motor, emotions and communication. It is produced in the body in very small quantities, and external food sources are needed to fulfill its requirement.
