Many children (and adults too) miss breakfast for common reasons such as ‘there’s no time’, ‘it’s too early’, ‘no appetite’. This is despite the popular belief that breakfast is the most important meal. Whether it is the most important meal is debatable but important, IT IS!
"Many children (and adults too) miss breakfast for common reasons such as ‘there’s no time’, ‘it’s too early’, ‘no appetite’. This is despite the popular belief that breakfast is the most important meal. Whether it is the most important meal is debatable but important, IT IS!
Two very good reasons why your child should not miss breakfast
Children should try to eat or drink something before going to school even if it’s only a small amount, because it will help improve alertness and mood. By feeding your child a breakfast that supplies carbohydrates your child’s mental and physical performance can be optimized. Carbohydrates will refuel your child’s body with glucose. Glucose is the preferred fuel for our bodies and the brain function exclusively on glucose (unless there is severe deprivation). Glucose will also enhance the amount of serotonin in the brain and serotonin helps in promoting a good mood, ie. Less crankiness in the morning!
Good breakfast choices
Start off the day with a revitalizing and nutritious breakfast that include food from the “Rice and Alternatives” group. The food from this group will provide much needed glucose as your child’s blood glucose will be at it’s lowest when she wakes up.
Choose food like:
1. Multigrain bread with a favourite spread e.g. peanut butter, cream cheese, fish floss or an egg
2. Fish congee
3. Breakfast cereal with milk
4. Yoghurt and fruit
You may also like to look through some of the recipes on this website for ideas. A fun change would be “Apple Boy” or “ Strawberries and apricot cream cheese on rice cakes”.
If your child simply refuses to eat anything solid, then encourages her to have a glass of fortified growing up milk before she leaves for school and pack a ‘breakfast on the go’ for her to eat at recess time.
Getting your child to eat breakfast will likely to take some planning ahead. Set a morning routine that include time for breakfast to instill the good habit. Start with her favourite food even if it’s not very ‘breakfast like’. As long as it provides some carbohydrate, it is a good start."