As a teenager, you’ve heard “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” so many times that you learned to tune it out during your early high school days as you ran out the door with your mom shouting after you. However, your mom’s words were not in vain. It’s been scientifically proven that breakfast is indeed a vital component of one’s day. All too often, students compromise what should be their first meal of the day in favor of staying in bed longer or reviewing their notes one last time. This is a terrible exchange — breakfast deserves to take precedence over both of these activities. Not convinced yet? Here are some reasons that are sure to change your mind.
According to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, breakfast improves important cognitive functions such as memory, which, in turn, contributes to better academic performance. Furthermore, better academic performance results in higher student motivation. Long story short: If you want to have a successful collegiate career, eat breakfast! (…And sleep and study, of course).
Now that you understand how necessary breakfast is in fulfilling all your future endeavors, you’re probably thinking that grabbing a cup of coffee should suffice. Wrong again. Coffee is a terrible substitute for a well-rounded breakfast because it contains little else in addition to caffeine. Calcium and Vitamin D are morning must-haves. Be sure to include some type of dairy product, such as milk or yogurt, and a calcium -rich beverage, such as orange juice.
Another reason coffee is a bad breakfast choice is the fact that it only serves as a temporary source of energy. To power through your day, you must intake food containing protein and grains. Protein and grains provide more long-term energy. Potential breakfast items are numerous — oatmeal, cereal, toast and bagels.
Lastly, it’s important to throw some color into your breakfast spread with some yummy fruit. Fruits are the perfect complement to any breakfast item. Cut up bananas to add to your cereal and milk or make a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Toss some fresh berries in your yogurt or oatmeal. Grab an apple on the go. The possibilities are infinite. Lifelong success starts with a good breakfast.
