A lot of research has been conducted to find out if children benefit from eating a healthy breakfast. The answer is yes, children not only are healthier when they are provided with a nutritious breakfast, they also perform better in school. As a parent, giving your child a healthy breakfast each morning is a high priority. Follow the five steps below to help incorporate a healthy breakfast into your mornings.
Make sure that your children finish their homework each night. This saves precious time in the morning for eating a healthy breakfast that will help them perform well in school and will keep them awake and focused. Once the homework is finished, make sure that your kids pack everything they need into their backpacks that night as well.
Encourage your children to select their outfits for the following day. Lay the complete ensemble out on the floor, a chair or in a special space in the closet. Make sure that any specialty clothes are included such as a coat or hat. Shoes are often forgotten until the last minute and can often cause tardiness.
Wake up fifteen minutes early to give yourself enough time to prepare a good breakfast. Sitting down for a nutritious breakfast will help your children to focus in school and gives your family the opportunity to discuss the day ahead and spend some time together before everyone goes their separate way.
Turn off the television set and the computer in the morning. Both are huge distractions that take up a lot of time in the morning. Instead, try eating breakfast around the table as a family and talking about the day ahead.
Make sure that you provide your children with plenty of healthy breakfast options. That means next time you go grocery shopping, skip the sugary cereals and opt for oatmeal, fruits and other healthy foods. To spice things up once in a while, try introducing a new fruit for breakfast. Most children like to try new fruits and will enjoy the surprise.
If you need support buying food for yourself or your family and are earning a lower income, you could possibly be eligible for Michigan food stamps, Minnesota food stamps, or food stamps from a different U.S. state which you are located in.