Peoria, IL,
07
September
2017
|
13:04 PM
America/Chicago

Breakfast: The Best Way to Start the Day for Your Child

By now, your family has settled into its school year morning routine. But does that routine including making sure your child has breakfast before heading out the door?

The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that about ten percent of all school-aged kids skip breakfast. By the time they’re teenagers that number climbs to 20 to 30 percent, with them often opting for more sleep time instead.

Making sure children have that morning meal is important. Numerous studies have shown that kids who eat breakfast do better in school, with better concentration and more energy.

Eating breakfast gets the day off to a good start – and your child’s metabolism going.

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Shelby Miller - Kids Should Eat Breakfast

Shelby Miller is a pediatric dietitian with the University of Illinois College of Medicine. She works with children and families as part of Healthy Kids University, focusing on weight management.

 


I get a lot of parents who say my kid doesn’t like breakfast foods. It's totally okay - if you can eat breakfast for dinner you can eat dinner foods for breakfast.
 
Shelby Miller, Pediatric Dietitian

Miller says eating breakfast also helps a child keep their weight under control, since they won’t be as hungry and likely to overeat later in the day.

Even a bowl of cereal – which can sometimes get a bad rap - is good way to start the day, as long as it’s the right kind of cereal.

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Shelby Miller - Cereal Is Okay for Breakfast

Miller adds that everything in moderation is okay, so if your child wants to eat one of those sweeter cereals with super heroes once or twice a week, that’s fine as long as they have a healthier choice the other days. She says even those healthier choices have come a long way from plain bran flakes, including things like chocolate Mini Wheats and Apple Cinnamon Cheerios.

For more information on healthy breakfast choices, visit OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois.