FOR
RELEASE AUGUST 12, 2014
CHICAGO
– The back-to-school movement is in full swing. As parents scour stores for the
year’s school supplies, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages them
to stock up on healthy breakfast foods, too. August is Kids Eat Right Month, the perfect time
to emphasize how a healthy breakfast is crucial in providing children the
nutrients and energy they need to succeed in school.
“Studies
show that breakfast eaters tend to have higher school attendance, less
tardiness and fewer hunger-induced stomachaches in the morning, which means
fewer trips to the school nurse,” says registered dietitian nutritionist and
Academy Spokesperson Toby Smithson. “Their overall test scores are better, they
concentrate better, solve problems more easily and have better muscle
coordination. Children who eat breakfast are also less likely to be overweight
and more likely to get enough calcium.”
But too
often and for a variety of reasons, children do not eat this fundamental meal.
The Academy’s FamilyNutrition and Physical Activity Report revealed that breakfast is not eaten
all of the time by 42 percent of white and Hispanic children and 59 percent of
black children. Additionally, 12 percent of white, 18 percent of black and 12
percent of Hispanic children reported never or rarely having breakfast.
“For
most people, time is the biggest obstacle to eating in the morning, but a
healthy meal doesn’t need to take a lot of time to prepare,” Smithson says.
“Getting organized the night before, keeping meals simple and even taking
breakfast to go are three easy steps parents can take to make sure breakfast is
eaten every day.”
Smithson
offers quick, easy and balanced breakfast ideas for children:
·
Cheese slices served on whole-grain toast
·
Iron-fortified, whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk and banana slices
·
Nut or sunflower butter spread on whole-grain toast or waffles or rolled inside
a whole-wheat tortilla
·
Fruit like peaches, strawberries or raisins in instant oatmeal made with
low-fat milk
·
Apple slices and low-fat yogurt topped with crumbled graham crackers
·
Lean turkey on a toasted whole-wheat English muffin
“These
options are all loaded with protein and carbohydrates, two important nutrients
that help energize the body and keep stomachs full for longer,” Smithson says.
“While
some prepackaged foods may seem convenient, parents should be cautious, as many
contain excess sugar and fat. Donuts, toaster pastries, pork bacon or sausage
sandwiches, chips, fruit drinks and some cereals can be laden with extra
calories and have little nutritional value. Read the nutrition label to find
lower-fat items and the ingredients label for products that do not list sugar
as one of the first ingredients,” Smithson says.
“Most
importantly, parents need to be positive role models: Eat breakfast
yourselves,” Smithson says. “If your children see you making excuses, they are
likely to do the same. But if they see you making time to eat a healthy meal,
they will follow your good example. Your whole family will be better off.”
Visit
www.KidsEatRight.org for a library of
healthy breakfast ideas and for more information about Kids Eat Right Month,
including the Kids Eat Right Month
press kit. For help developing a healthful eating plan that fits the needs
and tastes of your family, consult
a registered dietitian nutritionist in your area.
###
All registered dietitians are nutritionists –
but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. The Academy’s Board of
Directors and Commission on Dietetic Registration have determined that those
who hold the credential registered dietitian (RD) may optionally use
“registered dietitian nutritionist” (RDN) instead. The two credentials have
identical meanings.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the
world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy
is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of
dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy at www.eatright.org
No comments:
Post a Comment