Nutrition and Pediatrics

		Cindy Cunningham, MS, RD/LD Section Editor, Pediatrics Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Nutrition; UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

School Days: Breakfast
Posted: September 2005
Source: UT Southwestern Health Watch

We're talking about school day health topics this week on Healthwatch. It's essential to get a healthy start on the school day - and that means eating a good breakfast. Children who eat breakfast do better at school, and they're less likely to become overweight. A child who skips breakfast may overeat at lunch or binge on fattening snacks. But how do you find time to eat breakfast?

Dr. Laura Scalfano, an expert on childhood obesity at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, has some convenient, nutritious breakfast suggestions for even the busiest mornings. Try a low-fat milkshake made with low-sugar yogurt, skim milk and berries.
A bowl of fortified whole-grain cereal with skim milk is another good, quick option. Non-traditional breakfast foods, like a peanut butter sandwich or leftovers from dinner, might please kids who don't like the usual breakfast foods.