Breakfast adds up to a better day!
Eating breakfast has long been touted as a way to have an edge in the classroom. When children eat breakfast, they are more alert and able to absorb the day’s lessons. Studies show that eating breakfast adds up to better math scores too.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded nutrition study based at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center worked with 81 children, ages 8 to 11 years old. Half of the kids ate breakfast and half didn’t. Researchers used EEG sensors to record electrical activity in the children’s brains, particularly the region of the brain that is involved in solving math problems.
The EEG data showed that the children who skipped breakfast had to exert more effort to solve the math problems and to stay focused. Those who had eaten breakfast were more focused, used less mental effort and improved their math scores.
Need some quick breakfast ideas? Try these with a glass of milk:
- Ready-to-eat cereals, fresh fruit
- Low-fat yogurt with fruit or granola
- Slice of cheese melted on whole wheat bread, fruit
- Bran muffin, banana
- Peanut butter sandwich
- Cereal bar and fruit
- Mozzarella cheese sticks and baby carrots
- Carrot sticks with hummus or yogurt
- Whole grain crackers, low-fat cheese, fruit
- Raisin toast with peanut butter and banana
- Oatmeal and applesauce