Why Breakfast Is a Great Habit to Get Into

Big kids may make great fullbacks, but they pack on pounds (not muscle) by eating a few Big Macs or greasy chili-cheese dogs after practice. And they may feel unwell or weak if they don’t get off to a good nutritional start in the morning. When I was once told that one of the players fainted right before the first home game because he had not eaten breakfast (and possibly not lunch either), I was disturbed. Parents, coaches, doctors, teachers, and friends need to encourage better habits in their athletes.

Over the years, I have found that the most compelling information I can give to kids is the following:

• Breakfast makes you smarter. (It actually has been proven to improve school and work performance.)

• Breakfast makes you thinner. (All effective diets recommend a substantial breakfast with some protein to jump-start the metabolism and avoid overeating unhealthy foods at noon.)

• You need to believe in breakfast. If teens or their families are not in the habit of breakfast, they have very little idea how to start a healthier routine.

Parent Tips for Building the Breakfast of Champions

• Convince your teen to set his/her alarm ten minutes earlier.

• If possible, parents need to get their teens’ breakfast ready for them.

• Think out of the box about what your teen might want to eat: leftovers from the night before are fine. A re-heated chicken cutlet is a great starter.

• If your teen takes medication, breakfast is particularly important.

• Some antibiotics must be taken with food and some medications are tolerated better if taken with food.

• For kids on stimulants (eg, Ritalin) for ADHD, breakfast may be the best chance at a decent meal before the appetite-suppressing effects of the medications kick in.

• Keep a stash of protein or granola bars (not high sugar, quick energy type) on hand for your teen to eat on the way to school.

• Teach your teen how to make a milk or juice smoothie so he/she can take it along in the bus or car.

• Most of all, make breakfast a family goal. Everyone feels better after they eat it. No more headaches, zoning out, pigging out at lunch. Soon you will all think of what you’ll have for breakfast before going to sleep at night.

A fun Web site that helps families think creatively about breakfast with lots of hints, menus, recipes, and testimonials is www.mrbreakfast.com .

Winners always eat breakfast. Let’s make this the Year of the Champions.

About the Author: Ann Engelland, MD, practices Adolescent Medicine in Mamaroneck, New York and is the mother of seven teens and young adults.

 

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Issue: March 2008