What Can Breakfast Do for You?

Opening Activity

• Is breakfast an important meal? Why?• Name some foods you eat for breakfast.• What types of foods are good for breakfast?

Breakfast

• Studies have shown that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast helps get the body going for the day and can even increase people’s concentration levels. Breakfast “Breaks the fast” that the body experiences throughout a nights sleep.

• A frequently asked question is how much breakfast is enough? Honestly, anything is better than nothing for breakfast. From a 400 calorie meal to grabbing a banana on your way out, breakfast is essential no matter how much you eat.

Student Performance

• Student’s that eat breakfast are more likely to succeed in class throughout the day. They have a better cognitive memory and have a better attention span.

Skipping Breakfast

• Skipping breakfast causes a number of issues for individuals. For example, weight issues, lack of concentration, moodiness, and fatigue.

• Skipping breakfast also causes you to be hungrier throughout the day, usually leading to a binge late at night.

Percentage of people that Skip Breakfast

• It is estimated that 31 million people a day skip breakfast.

• 18-34 years: 46%• 35-54 years: 32%• 55 & up: 22%

Healthy Choices

• Fruits• Eggs • Dairy such as: milk, cheese, yogurt.• Toast• Healthy Cereals• Juices “100% Juices”

In a Rush?

• A big reason people state they do not eat breakfast is because of lack of time.

• In a Rush Foods:– Fruits such as: berries, apples, oranges, grapes,

bananas, and strawberries.– Nuts such as: almonds or peanuts– Waffles and peanut butter– Yougurts with granola– Boiled Eggs (made the night before)

Breakfast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV_OdWTM9QQ

Fun Fact• If you just HAVE to have that sugary snack,

breakfast is the best time to indulge! Whether it be a slice of cake, a cinnamon roll, or a candy bar, the morning is the best time to eat sugary foods. This gives your body time to breakdown the sugars and digest the fats throughout the day. The worst time to eat sugary foods is late at night. These foods are not encouraged, but if you can’t resist, eat them early in the morning!

Closing Activity

• Get into groups of 4 and come up with a healthy breakfast meal for each morning of the week.

• Reminder: focus on healthy foods that will give you energy for the day- FOOD IS FUEL!

Questions????

Resources

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV_OdWTM9QQ

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