Benefits of breakfast

Dear BP,

What are the benefits of breakfast for my children?  They always complain they are not hungry in the morning.  

Pat, Philadelphia

Dear Pat,

First, let me address your child' s complaint about not being hungry for breakfast in the morning. Dehydration, after a long night's sleep,  can cause a queasy stomach and dampen the appetite in the morning.  Have your child drink a few sips of water as soon as she gets out of bed.  The water may settle her stomach and perk up her appetite.  

The benefits of breakfast are simple-

1.  Breakfast build better brains.  Studies show that compared with breakfast skippers, children who start the day with a good, solid breakfast enjoy better grades, have better attention and participation in class, higher reading and math scores, improved memory and less diagnoses of ADD, ADHD, OCD and depression.

2.  Breakfast eaters are healthier students.  Studies show that kids who begin the day with breakfast miss fewer days of school because of illness. 

3.  Breakfast eaters tend to be leaner.  Lean kids suffer fewer illnesses and sports injuries than do over fat children.  By a biochemical quirk called front loading, kids who begin the day with adequate nutrition tend to need fewer calories the rest of the day.  On the other hand, those who skip breakfast tend to overeat the rest of the day.  

If you do not believe me, ask any early education teacher.  My aunt, who taught elementary school for 40 years, always could tell the students who ate a healthy breakfast versus those who did not.  

To learn more abut the benefits of breakfast four you child's growing mind and body, check out Dr. Bill Sear's L.E.A.N. program.  www.drsearslean.com