Experts agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. With school back in session, making time for this meal, and trying to make it healthy, all within an allotted timeframe, can seem disastrous! However, a couple of ingredients can send your child- and you- happily through the morning with necessary protein and energy to last.
Reasons To Eat Breakfast
Recent research has revealed that children who regularly enjoy a morning meal tend to perform better academically, stay focused for longer periods, and experience improved overall health. On the opposite side, skipping breakfast can lead to afternoon fatigue, low energy, and difficulty concentrating. Making breakfasts that count when your children are young helps them develop the habit to not be forsaken later in life.
Two Ingredient Eats
Researchers pair whole-grain bread with a type of butter, like peanut butter, for a healthy start. The bread contains complex carbohydrates, which provide sustained energy throughout the morning. The butter contains protein, which gives the feeling of fullness. Protein also supports brain development and cognitive function, including concentration.
This meal can be handed out in minutes.
Upscale
To add variety or upscale this meal, try adding fruit, such as a banana, on top of the peanut butter. You can drizzle honey for sweetness. Adding chai seeds adds additional fiber.
Students arrive at school energized by slow-burning carbs and protein, rather than a sugar spike from vitamin-deficient carbohydrates. These students can stay alert for reading groups, math drills, and mid-morning tests without the crash that follows pastries or sugary cereals.
Additional ideas include swapping the bread for a whole-grain tortilla or rice cake. You can rotate the nut butters to keep breakfast fresh while sticking to the same foundational two-ingredient formula.
