Breakfast and school performance

by Sanjana - Dietitian on 27. Oct, 2008 in Health

Children who don’t eat breakfast perform poorly at school. On the other hand children who eat breakfast think faster, solve problems more easily, and are better learners. They are less likely to be irritable and aggressive. They do not get tired and have enough energy for sports.

Experimental studies of healthy 9-11 year olds have shown that brain functioning is sensitive to short term changes in nutrient availability. Even a short fast imposes greater stress on young children than on adults resulting in metabolic and behavioral changes.

Moreover, skipping breakfast lowers blood sugar and that causes sudden hunger pangs by late morning and we end up snacking on high fat foods before lunch. This is particularly true for children who leave the house on an empty stomach and buy greasy burgers or patties from the school cafeteria. Breakfast skippers are more likely to be overweight.

So the conclusion here is to make sure that your child leaves the house after having a healthy breakfast. If it has become habitual for your child to eat less breakfast in the morning, then slowly keep increasing the quantity you serve him/her day after day.

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