Are Breakfast and Lunch Really…
Brain Food?

 
Real Nutrition:
Solid research has proven a significant relationship between what a child eats and his/her concentration, sleep, test result, memory, math, and verbal skills.  For sustained energy, try a combination of complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, vegetables, and fruits.  These foods take longer to break down, thus providing a more steady flow of energy to the brain.

Real Life!
The only thing worse than a midmorning energy crash is a full-blown hunger pain.  Our kids are counting on us to provide a breakfast and lunch that will sustain them throughout the day.  Certain foods really do help the brain perform better, while others (or the lack of) can drag down performance.  Use these smart ideas to move your child to the head of the class.

• Never ever skip breakfast.  An ideal start for the day should be a combination of a whole-grain cereal or toast with a protein like low-fat milk, yogurt, or an egg.
• Try spreading peanut butter on warm, whole-wheat toast; making a turkey sausage sandwich on a whole-wheat roll; topping vanilla, low-fat yogurt with your favorite crunchy granola; or serving instant oatmeal with low-fat milk and fresh berries.
• Some excellent lunch foods are left-over grilled chicken, tuna, turkey, hard-boiled eggs, peanut butter, cheese, salads, avocados, oranges, bananas, and cantaloupe.  Use a variety of whole-wheat wraps and breads and in-season fresh fruits.
• Look for 100% fruit juices fortified with vitamin C, with no added sugars.
• Save the sugary treats for after dinner.  Too much sugar for breakfast or lunch could cause a dip in energy and/or mood swings that may interfere with learning.

For more breakfast and lunch ideas for kids, log on to www.supermarketsavvy.com.