Why Children Shouldn't Go to School Without Breakfast

We've all heard time and time again that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But it's still worth repeating!

Do you know why children shouldn’t go to school without breakfast? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it’s the first charge of fuel that we provide the body when we wake up. What’s more, the quality and quantity of food that we eat at breakfast will help determine how our metabolism behaves for the rest of the day.

Children are constantly growing and for that reason, they need to be well-nourished. This means that it’s not recommended for children to skip meals at all. They should eat a good breakfast and lunch, a healthy snack that has some fruit or nuts, and a light but balanced dinner.

With respect to skipping meals and fasting, it’s very important to completely eradicate this practice in children. It can have negative consequences that make it difficult for children to concentrate and learn.

Breakfast helps to regulate the glucose levels that naturally drop at night while we sleep. Glucose is the brain’s source of food. Therefore, if your child skips breakfast before going to school, his or her performance in the classroom will suffer.

Healthy habits

You should establish norms and habits so that your children grow up healthy and with good solid values. You’ll need to invest a lot of time in educating them.

Your children need to understand why you’ve established each rule or practice in your household, especially those that have to do with their health. The daily practice of good eating habits will help your children to follow your example and they’ll show little resistance to healthy habits.

Mealtimes should be planned depending on the dynamics of the household, although it’s best that children eat breakfast about 45 minutes after waking. They should also take a light snack and lunch for school.

At first, children might resist the idea of having to eat something so early in the morning. However, little-by-little, their body will get used to it. You’ll notice that they wake up with more appetite for breakfast.

Why children shouldn’t go to school without breakfast

Good nutrition, especially in the morning, provides the fuel that is needed to perform multiple activities. The brain consumes glucose, but it doesn’t store it.

This is why, when glucose levels drop while we sleep at night, the brain anxiously awaits more energy after we awake. For this reason, if you let your children go to school without breakfast, they’re likely to have difficulties concentrating in class.

Other consequences of skipping meals and going too long without food in children can be the following:

• Irritability
• Difficulties concentrating
• Problems with retaining information or with performing simple tasks
• Less willingness to learn
• Bad behavior

With a full stomach, it’s more likely that children will have a better attitude in any situation. Their mood will improve and they’ll have the energy to run, play, and to participate in all the activities required throughout the school day.

An enjoyable and nutritious breakfast

Breakfast is one of the best guarantees of enjoying good health, controlling your weight and supplying the body with the energy it needs to face the day. This first meal should include cereals, carbohydrates, proteins, fruits, and dairy in appropriate portions that contribute effectively to children’s growth.

Cereals and grains provide a great number of vitamins and iron. Fruits and vegetables are good for the functioning of the digestive system. Moreover, they help prevent constipation and having an upset stomach in the mornings.

On the other hand, animal-based products like cold cuts, eggs or milk are also important. They contribute the proteins and fats that are important for building muscle, maintaining body tissues and absorbing vitamins.

Take advantage of breakfast time and use it so the family has some time together at the beginning of your day. That way you start each day feeling happy and with energy. To the extent possible, try to have everyone to eat the same thing at breakfast.

That way, you’ll set an example for your children by your actions and not just with words. Your children need to learn from you that it’s important to eat a healthy and balanced meal.

Finally, let other mothers know of the negative consequences of skipping breakfast so the practice of allowing children (and adults) to skip meals becomes less and less common.