By Hollie W. Best
Gannett News Service

Children can help themselves to cereal and milk. (Associated Press photo)

Breakfast is a great way to get us started in the morning. We can learn better and be more productive at school and at work once we give our bodies energy. Whether you eat breakfast at home or at school, or on your way to work, it is the most important way to start your day.

However, many reports show that 40 percent of kids do not eat breakfast. Why should you encourage breakfast?

• The State of Minnesota Breakfast Study showed that students who ate breakfast before starting school had a general increase in math grades and reading scores, increased attention, reduced nurse visits and improved behavior.

• Children who eat a healthful breakfast tend to meet their daily nutritional needs keep their weight under control, have lower blood cholesterol levels, and attend school more frequently.

• Kids who eat breakfast are more likely than children who skip breakfast to consume foods with adequate levels of minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamins such as riboflavin, vitamins A, C and B12 and folate.

QUICK IDEAS

Remember, almost anything can be eaten for breakfast. There are many quick and easy breakfasts that you can give your kids that are also nutritious. According to the American Dietetic Association, these can include: Ready-to-eat cereal with fruit and milk Toasted bagel with cheese Fruit-filled breakfast bar and yogurt Toasted waffle topped with fruit and yogurt Fruit smoothie (fruit and milk whirled in a blender) Peanut butter on whole-wheat toast

• Kids who skip breakfast do not make up for the missed calories at other meals. A Louisiana study found that children who skipped breakfast rarely met even two-thirds of the daily requirements for most minerals and vitamins.

• Breakfast revs up the body's metabolic rate first thing in the morning, burning calories faster than if the morning meal had been skipped. Thus breakfast eaters maintain their weight more easily than skippers do.

• Children who eat breakfast have better overall test scores, solve problems more easily, and have better muscle coordination. Adults who eat breakfast do better on the job - whether at home or away.

A good breakfast is the fuel to jump-start your mind and body for the day. Your body uses energy from food even while you sleep. Because you have fasted all night while sleeping, your body needs to "break the fast." A healthful breakfast should be high in complex carbohydrates and low in fat. Breakfast should provide you with one-fourth to one-third of your daily dietary needs.

If you can't provide a healthful breakfast for your child at home, you might also look at breakfast offered at your child's school or day care. The School Breakfast Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in schools and institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free breakfasts to children each school day.