A healthy diet plays a critical role in childrenís overall health and school performance. Whether they are eating breakfast at home, enjoying a school-provided meal or snacking on the go, a nutritious start to the day can help them concentrate and perform better in school.Studies have shown that the health of students is also linked to their academic success. Both physical activity and healthy eating may help improve academic achievement, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.In El Paso County, almost 29 percent of children between the ages of 2 to 14 were either overweight or obese. The benefits associated with healthy eating include a decreased risk of developing chronic diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers; and a decreased risk of being overweight and obese.Starting the day with a good breakfast can help teach your children healthy eating habits, so they can make better food choices throughout the day. Explain how a nutritious breakfast will give them energy to start the school day successfully. Involve your child in creating a menu so you can choose different foods that your child likes. Parents and older siblings can act as healthy role models by eating breakfast with them. If time is a restraint, switch some of the morning chores to the night before to ensure there is enough time to eat breakfast.A nutritious breakfast includes foods from at least three of the five food groups. Choose from some of the following examples to give your child the energy they need to start their day:
- Fruits: fresh whole fruit such as bananas, apples, oranges. Sliced fruit can be added to cereal, yogurt or oatmeal.
- Vegetables: 100 percent vegetable juice, or mushrooms, asparagus, or green peppers in an omelet.
- Grains: whole-grain breads, dry cereal, bagels, English muffins
- Milk: low fat or fat free milk, yogurt or cheese.
- Protein: hard-boiled eggs or nuts/trail mix
