Breakfast SuccessThe Importance of Eating

Breakfast

Breakfast

• Breakfast is the first meal of the day • It is the first chance to “break the fast”

and get nutrients in your body which provide the energy you need for the day           

Why is Breakfast so Important?

• Overnight your body goes for 8-12 hours without food, breakfast helps to refuel your body and give you energy

• Your brain uses energy from food and needs a boost in the morning

Eating A Healthy Breakfast

• The muscles of our body need energy to activate them and get the body working physically

• Contributes to healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime

Eating A Healthy Breakfast

• Decreases symptoms of hunger like headache, fatigue and irritability

• Less illness due to stronger immune system

• Helps to maintain a healthy weight

How Does Breakfast Affect School Performance?

• Eating breakfast makes you more alert and have more energy allowing you to concentrate in school

• Student’s who don’t eat breakfast may feel tired and have trouble concentrating

How Does Breakfast Affect School Performance?

• Studies have shown that eating breakfast is associated with…

Improved memoryBetter test and assignment gradesGreater school attendance Better behaviour

Why do people skip breakfast?• No appetite• No time• They may think they are

being healthy by fasting• They may not have the

knowledge of what to eat• What other reasons can you

think of?

Balanced Breakfast

• A balanced breakfast should include foods from at least 3 of the 4 food groups from Canada’s Food Guide.

The Four Food Groups

• Vegetables and Fruits

• Milk and Alternatives• Meat and Alternatives

• Grains

Vegetables and Fruit: bananas, frozen blueberries, dried apricots, cucumber, canned peaches and spinach, etc. 

Grain Products: whole grain cereals, whole wheat tortillas, whole grain roti, oatmeal, brown rice and naan bread, etc.

Milk and Alternatives: plain yogurt, milk, cheese, fortified soy beverage and cottage cheese, etc.

Meat and Alternatives: eggs, tofu, chicken breast (other meats and fish), nuts, seeds and peanut butter, etc.

Sharing Healthy Breakfast Ideas

What are your favourite breakfast ideas…•when you’re in a rush?

•on weekdays?•on a weekend?

•Interesting ideas ( think outside the box)

Breakfast Ideas• A bowl of whole grain cereal with

sliced strawberries and a glass of milk

• yogurt berry smoothie and a handful of trail mix with nuts and seeds

• Cheesy scrambled eggs in a whole grain tortilla wrap and 100% orange juice

Works Cited• Eat Right Ontario. (2012). Make a balanced breakfast a

habit in your home. Retrieved from: www.eatrightontario.ca.

• Middlesex-London Health Unit. (2013). Nutrition Facts: Breakfast Success. Retrieved from: www.healthunit.com

• Leslie Beck Nutrition Consulting Inc. (2013) 7 tips for a healthy breakfast. Retrieved from: http://www.lesliebeck.com/articles/7-tips-for-a-healthy-breakfast