We are often told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But still, it is usually the one we take for granted. We either eat whatever is available or worse, we skip it. Why? Because these days, people sleep late and thus, they wake up rushing off to work or to school. Some wake up just in time for lunch.

Just how important breakfast is can already be seen in the words: “break” and “fast.” People sleep about six to eight hours a day and this is the length of time that our bodies are without food. So, the first meal of the day literally means breaking or ending a long fast.

According to a series of studies conducted by the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Medical School, children who ate breakfast became more attentive in class and got higher grades. They are also more focused and more analytical compared to those who skip it. Food to the body is like the gasoline to a car. How can a car travel without gas? How can your body survive the day’s activities if you don’t have energy?

Why kids skip breakfast

There are a lot of reasons why kids want to skip breakfast. First, it is really hard to get up when you are under the covers and cuddling your fluffy pillow.  Let's face it! Most kids would rather stay in bed than get up and prepare for school. Waking up early in the morning is probably one of the hardest things that students have to do. They end up begging for five more minutes or so that sometimes they run out of time for breakfast. Thus, eating a full course meal in the morning is more often than not, impossible.

Second, most people may agree that we don’t feel hungry in the morning. So we would rather not eat at once and just gorge on food during lunch. This is not healthy at all, as studies show that this may lead to obesity.

Third, we can’t always blame a child’s poor appetite. Sometimes, the food is just not appetizing at all, so they just refuse to eat it. Or, if you prepare the same food every day, it isn't surprising for a child to shake his head when he sees the food on the table.

Fourth, some parents are too busy preparing for work. Imagine if everyone in the household is rushing off to work or school, there is barely any time to prepare food and eat.

Last, if the parents themselves don’t eat in the morning, it is safe to assume that their child don’t eat breakfast as well.

What to eat for breakfast

Others kids do eat breakfast. But with more and more parents working, many resort to serving instant noodles, or anything that is easy to prepare. Often, these meals just require hot water or turning on the microwave. But though it is very convenient, these foods do not provide as much nutrients as other foods.

If you’re looking for something that is easy to prepare, try giving him whole wheat cereals like those being sold by Nestle. They are easy to prepare and at the same time, healthy. Whole wheat is rich in fiber, which helps in digestion. It is also a good source of vitamins and nutrients, which are good for the heart and the skin, among others.

How to encourage your child to eat breakfast

Sometimes parents can be pushy. Kids, on the other hand, are stubborn. Who is the boss, anyway? Even small things such as eating breakfast can lead into a long discussion. So to avoid arguments over trivial things such as breakfast, here are some tips on how to encourage your kid to eat breakfast.

• Before going to bed, you can discuss what to eat for breakfast in the morning. This way, he can voice out what he wants and hopefully it is in your list of what-to-eat-for-breakfast.

• Arrange all the things your child needs the night before so that there is no need to rush before going to school.

• Preparing breakfast can also be your bonding time. You can prepare the food together. This could make the morning much more enjoyable for the both of you.

• Make the dish appetizing. Be creative and make the food appealing to your child by designing the food. Toasting star-shaped bread or drawing a smile (by using ketchup) on an omelette may just do the trick.

• Your child may not be hungry when you offer him food in the morning, but there is a possibility that he will get hungry when he is on his way to school. You can always give him a sandwich and milk and tell him to eat it on the way. If you don’t personally bring your kid to school, ask the nanny or the driver to keep an eye on him and make sure that he eats the food.