Back To School Nutrition: Breakfast For All Day Energy!

by Susan Cross | Posted: September 7th, 2010 | No Comments »

September! In many ways it is a welcome month. Some much needed free time from the children, a return to good habits, and if you’re like me, you get a lot more work done once summer comes to an end.

Returning to school can also bring up a bit of concern. Kids today have a very long day. They eat breakfast early, go for hours until lunch and often five or more hours until after school activities end and they can grab a snack. This is not enough fuel for their growing bodies. While there is a movement to improve school lunch fare, many schools still serve nutrient deficient processed meals filled with hormones, antibiotics and pesticides, lots of white stuff, preservatives, corn syrup, sugar and food dyes.

With a rise in obesity, type II diabetes, and attention issues, we as a nation, really need to be more involved in the connection between nutrition and the health of our children.

Eating whole nutrient-rich foods and receiving proper supplementation gives our children healthy habits that not only lasts a lifetime but will improve their behavior, attention span, focus, and ultimately their overall academic performance. The brain-body-health connection is real.

Here are some easy, nutrient-rich ideas for breakfast and for snacking to keep energy up, blood-sugar balanced and the brain clear. On Thursday I’ll be featuring part II, lunches and after school snacks.

BREAKFAST:
-Try to send them off to school with a warm breakfast. It should include protein, a healthy carbohydrate, good fat, and a fruit.

1. Whole grain toast with peanut butter or almond butter and a VIB smoothie*.
2. Whole grain steel cut oats* with almond milk and blueberries. A cup of Orgain protein drink.
3. Egg Cups* and whole grain toast.
4. Whole grain toast and a greek yogurt.
5. Whole grain banana pancakes* with nut butter.

*Please visit our VIB recipe page. Most of these can be made ahead of time and reheated in the morning. The evening before put out plates, silverware, etc… This saves so much time.

SNACKS:
I put several snacks in my son’s backpack each day. One he eats right before school begins. Many kids have long commutes. This extra snack with really help with keep energy steady. The other he eats as soon as school is over. Please see our VIB back to school snack list.

Reminder: Thursday’s post will include lunches and after school ideas.