Breakfast might not be that important after all, as some scientists and nutritionists are beginning to question principles that have been the mainstays of diet and health for years and years. The doubts are arising from the fact that there is little to no scientific proof - just anecdotal evidence - that eating breakfast is definitely better for you. As Marion Nestle put it in What to Eat, " What you eat - and how much - matters more to your health than when you eat." Some even notes that there are more than a handful of people who would do well to skip a meal or two once in a while.
There is no proof that skipping breakfast is better for your health either, however, and studies show that many people who skip breakfast are likely to binge later on in the day, with snacks or overly generous lunches. People who eat breakfast are less likely to have certain nutritional shortfalls in their diets, since breakfast foods are often high in fiber, calcium, iron, protein and frequently include fruits, which provide many other nutrients. "There isn't any downside to eating a healthy breakfast," said Joan Salge Blake, a registered dietitian and assistant professor at Boston University specializing in weight management.
Of course, this information is aimed at adults. It is still important for children to have breakfast before heading off to school because it will allow them to concentrate better during the day. It will also decrease the likelihood of obesity, as many studies have shown that kids who skip the meal are "more likely to get their energy from snack food."
It appears that breakfast skipping works for some and doesn't work for others and as long as you pay attention to what you're eating throughout the day, you should be able to take a pass on it if you so choose. Besides, you can always eat breakfast at lunch and call it even.
May is National BBQ Month and National Hamburger Month
Cupcakes, not for dessert (unless beef is your idea of a treat)
Because eating French Fries in the car is so tough
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-25-2006 @ 10:50AM
Leana said...
At last, ammo with which to argue against the Free School Breakfasts program in the US. *evil leana*
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9-25-2006 @ 12:26PM
Nicole Weston said...
This in no way provides evidence against breakfast programs for children, Leana. In fact, on both sides of the issue, researchers and nutritionists agree that it is very important for kids to have breakfast in the mornings.
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9-25-2006 @ 12:42PM
MJ said...
I beleieve it is. After fasting all night you need to refuel the body. Im not much of a breakfast eater of anything in the morning. And only eat once a day. But I have learned recently in keeping your weight and body in a healthy manner than you should eat 3 meals a day and start with breakfast, doesnt have to be breakfast food, just anything healthy.
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9-25-2006 @ 1:16PM
ben said...
the last poster's comments are crucial: your 'breakfast' doesnt have to be something we all think of as 'breakfast-ey' at all. as long as its healthy. you can eat the same thing you might have for dinner or lunch or whatever, just think that your body and mind require good fuel to start the day. if thought of in those most basic terms, eating a good, healthy, and maybe even pretty large breakfast can only be a good thing. do i think not eating breakfast is terrible? not at all, so long as you fuel your system equally well later on, at some point. it would seem that right when you awaken, at the beginning of everthing tho, before the stress, before the errands and the work, etc, to fuel up the car as it were, would be the most practicle approach.
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9-25-2006 @ 2:56PM
Darcy said...
Lol...read this as I'm eating leftover pizza for breakfast...
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9-25-2006 @ 4:00PM
Brighella said...
Babies have to be fed every 3-4 hours around the clock, big people arent that different...spacing out 5 little meals allows us to use more of the nutrients in the foods we consume. We dont necessarily have to get ourselves up in the middle of the night, but breakfast is important for kickstarting all of the systems out of 'sleep mode'. *brighella*
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9-25-2006 @ 4:48PM
Adriane said...
Breakfast is important because, as many posters have mentioned, it gives you fuel to run off through the morning and early afternoon. Eating early also starts up your metabolism and digestion, leading to a more healthy system overall.
If you dislike or are allergic to eggs, yogurt or cereal (etc), follow in the footsteps of other countries and opt for fresh bread and sliced meats, fruit, rice or simple soups.
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9-25-2006 @ 5:18PM
Spitzmaus said...
If I don't eat breakfast (I prefer the "traditional" kind, but will eat most anything, including cold pizza), I become extremely cranky by lunchtime; I also have less mental and physical energy, and my concentration lags. Anecdotal, yes, but I know how I function most effectively -- and that means food intake in the morning. And when winter/cold weather (such as it is here in California) arrives, I'm much more inclined to eat a hot breakfast.
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9-25-2006 @ 7:18PM
angelique said...
Why would anyone want to stop the breakfast programs in schools? The cost of these programs is incidental when you consider the US budget in its entirety. Children who qualify for the free meals very likely need the opportunity to have a balanced, nutrious start to their day, and it's a chance to establish healthy eating practices. The artical rather clearly states that this sort of advice is aimed at adults and NOT children.
It's certainly not going to harm anyone to have a reasonable breakfast. I can't imagine that not eating for 12 hours or more is good for anyone. (Figure you eat around 6 pm, then get up at 6 am..even an early lunch, around 11 am works out to 17 hours between meals). How could you consume the necessary daily calories without eating lots of heavy, dense foods? Maybe if you've had a thanksgiving style feast the night before you don't need to eat immediately if you're not hungry early in the morning, but for most people breakfast is a pretty good idea. Skipping breakfast at home is exactly why that line forms at the junkfood dispenser around 10:30.
If there's a downside to breakfast then it's got to be the crap which gets passed off as breakfast food. Pizza is probably healthier than a bowl of sugar bits or pasty bowls of instant flavored "oatmeal". (Yes, I have issues with instant oatmeal. It's just wrong that I thought that oatmeal grew in flakes until I was 28. I resent all the years I spent missing out on the toasty goodness of real oats.)
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9-26-2006 @ 11:10PM
Adriane said...
Angelique- Oh man, I agree about whats on the market for breakfasts these days...Have you seen the new things advertised as a "breakfast cookie" (I think it's by Quaker? I could be wrong) I mean...what?? How is THAT breakfast?
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9-30-2006 @ 2:42PM
SCSthrnBell said...
Lena, I cannot believe that anyone would argue against free breakfast programs in school. Apparently you don't have children.
This school year I switched my son from a small private school with 700 kids grades K3-12th to a public school with 350 kids, grades K3-2nd. The school system in my county is really a good one, but most of the kids that do go to the school are not as wealthy as the kids that we were with before, so I did not really think about the free breakfast issue because our previous school didnt have it. In fact lunch at that school was $5.00 per day because it was a private/independently funded school. But, the public school here gives every single child in that school a free breakfast. Regardless of age, color, income, or anything ese, they ALL get free breakfast. I love it. I can drive my son to school at 7:40 vs. 8:00 and I know that he is going to eat breakfast in his classroom ever day. This is something that the principal has chosen to do for his kids and I applaud that. Of course we have to pay for lunch, which is fine, we can do that. But I know one thing that will happen at this school....the children that go there WILL EAT. He loves to go eat breakfast and chat with his classmates. Besides, there may be a few kids that can't go home and heat up a pizza anytime they are hungry, but at school, they will eat. Everyday. And they can count on that. I have been around these kids a lot since we started the school. And I support any free food program for children anywhere, anytime. OK.... am off of my soapbox now. :)
Oh...back on topic...kids need breakfast to concentrate throughout the day. At least mine does.
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