Breakfast Success The Importance of Eating Breakfast Breakfast

Breakfast Success The 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… ü Improved memory ü Better test and assignment grades ü Greater school attendance ü 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 Grains Milk and Alternatives Meat and Alternatives

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