September is National Better Breakfast Month, and the timing couldn’t be better! With school in session and new routines starting to form, it is too easy to pass out granola bars in the car or stop for donuts on the way to school. So, help the whole family be their best selves by making sure everyone gets a healthy start to the day with a well rounded breakfast!
Why Should We Eat Breakfast?
People say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so starting the day with a healthy family breakfast gives everyone energy and helps make everyone’s day a success! Breakfast can also improve alertness, concentration, and mood. People who eat breakfast regularly have been noted to have healthier body weights, as well as lower risks of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Now that school is in full swing, a daily healthy breakfast is even more important for your children. Kids who eat breakfast before school perform and behave better during the day. If your family is able to sit down and eat breakfast together, try it! Breakfast as a family sparks conversation, promotes family bonding, helps everyone plan for the day, and encourages healthy eating habits.
What’s For Breakfast?
If mornings leave you short on time, have some easy go-to breakfast options on hand. Cereal is quick to fix and is the most common breakfast food, but don’t settle for sugar packed varieties. Choose whole grain cereals and add in fruit to boost the vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant content. A close second in popularity is eggs with or without bacon, which also only takes a few minutes to cook. Pastries like bagels and muffins come in third. Again, check those nutrition labels for added sugars, or opt to make your own, so that your kids don’t start the day with a sugar rush followed soon by a crash in energy.
If your kids don’t really like breakfast foods, there are plenty of nontraditional options that can still give them the benefits of starting the day with a meal. Leftovers, cold pizza, and sandwiches have all been eaten in my house on days where my kids want something a little different.
What Counts as a Healthy Breakfast?
Whatever your favorite breakfast foods are, be sure you are including carbohydrates and protein, as well as fiber or healthy fats to keep your family full until it’s time for lunch (or morning snack for little ones). Eggs and meat items pack in a lot of protein. If you are vegetarian or prefer plant based protein, you can look in the baking aisle or in the frozen section for high protein pancakes and waffles. Yogurt is another high protein favorite in our family, but we try to stick to brands with lower added sugar. Many cereals and oatmeals are high in fiber, and some even have extra protein that will keep tummies from grumbling throughout the morning.
Breakfast is a great time to serve fruit whole or in yummy smoothies. Smoothies are a great way to sneak in extra protein through yogurt or milk, and leafy greens are an easily hidden veggie that can add lots of nutrients to smoothies. On mornings when you feel rushed, here are some easy breakfast ideas to simplify your routine.
Breakfast can be a wonderful time to create memories and have fun as a family. For a lazy weekend morning, check out these great local restaurants that serve up delicious brunch options.
