Breakfast 'crucial to children's performance at school'
With children now back in the swing of school, it is important for parents to make sure they're getting enough nourishment for all that learning.Nowhere is a healthy diet more important than with breakfast, which nutrition expert Deirdre Imus explains will not only provide an early morning boost, but can also lead to better school performance.
Writing in Fox News, she highlighted the body of research linking breakfast with better cognitive functioning in children.
The author explained that some of the benefits of a good breakfast, as outlined by the American Dietetic Association, include improved hand-eye coordination, boosted concentration levels and higher levels of alertness.
What's more, breakfast is crucial in meeting a child's daily nutritional requirements and can lead to all-round better health, resulting in fewer missed days of school while also promoting physical activity.
"Your child’s palate develops early and his relationship with food is influenced by your relationship with food," she explained.
"If you eat in a rush or standing up, then your child will do the same. If you skip meals, then so will your child. If you always have seconds, your child will too. If your pantry is stocked with junk food, your kids will prefer junk food."
Beyond the health aspects, food can also affect people's moods and also offers a scope for socialising, according to psychologist Mark Millard.
