Importance of Eating Breakfast

written by Erica L.

    Imagine a typical morning when Kermit, an arbitrary person with a completely random name, climbs slowly out of bed, takes a shower, ties his shoes, grabs his backpack, yells a farewell to his parents and flies out of the door to go to school. What is missing in this morning schedule? Breakfast, the most important meal of the day according to many researchers. The above description is a perfect example of skipping breakfast because of rushing in the morning. Not only time restraints but also laziness and inorganization account for not eating breakfast.
    Breakfast is extremely important for your body’s health. The Dietetic Association states, “Breakfast can be a very good source of vitamins. Many processed cereals are fortified with vitamins and minerals which people can find it difficult to get elsewhere if they are just having two meals a day.” Eating breakfast reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It also lowers irritability, tiredness and restlessness in the morning. Breakfast really does increase mental performance.
    Skipping breakfast causes several reactions to occur. The body’s blood sugar is not able to refuel after 8-12 hours of rest so the body becomes very tired. Also, not eating in the morning means more snacking later in the day because the body is craving food. This can lead to binge eating and result in obesity. These snacks usually contain more fats and sugars to rebalance the body’s decrease in energy, and these fats and sugars are not healthy for the body. Students find that not eating breakfast drops participation and awareness in class because their bodies are rebelling from the lack of food.
    There are a lot of ways you can start eating breakfast in the morning. Wake up earlier and plan breakfast the night before. If the food consists of prepared food then try readying it the night before so that there is enough time to cook and eat the meal in the morning. The American Dietetic Association suggests simple breakfasts like whole-grain cereal with fruit and yogurt or peanut butter on a bagel and low-fat milk. Eating a mix of protein and carbohydrates for breakfast will boost the body’s energy for the rest of the day and keep the mind functioning.
    According to researchers, more than 40% of girls, 32% of guys and 20% of adults regularly skip breakfast. Do not be any of those people. Eat breakfast, and stay healthy!

Citations
“Breakfast.” Wikipedia. 29 May 2008. http://www.wikipedia.org
“Breakfast is ‘most important meal’.” BBC News. 29 May 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk
“The Importance of Breakfast.” Belly Bytes. 29 May 2008.http://www.bellybytes.com
“Nutritious Breakfast.” BoysTownPediatrics. 29 May 2008. http://www.boystownpediatrics.org/ParentTips/breakfast.asp
Streeter, Katherine and Peaslee, Kindy. “The Importance of Breakfast: Fuel Up and Start the Day Right.” 29 May 2008. http://adksportsfitness.com