With high school starting so early, students have little time to get ready in the mornings. When there is so much to do, and never enough time, something has to give. For many students, that thing is breakfast. In a survey answered by Peninsula Students, 52% reported that they either never or only sometimes eat breakfast before school. When asked why they may not eat breakfast before school, 52% stated it was because there wasn’t enough time, 31% reported it was too early, and they weren’t hungry, and 16% said they forgot. Despite over half the students saying they eat breakfast less than half the week, 100% answered yes to the question, is breakfast important? Why, if they believe breakfast is important, do so many students think they can go without it? 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and here’s why; When you skip breakfast, you tell your body that you need to conserve, not burn, calories throughout the day. Christy T. Tangney, a clinical dietitian at Rush University Medical Center, states, “Studies have found that although people who skip breakfast eat slightly fewer calories during the day, they tend to have higher body mass index, or BMI.” Not only can breakfast lower your risk of obesity but also type 2 diabetes. In an article about “…Things That Can Spike Your Blood Sugar,” the Center for Disease Control and Prevention explains, “going without that morning meal can increase blood sugar… blood sugar can be harder to control the later it gets.” Eating breakfast also restores your glycogen levels, which breaks down into glucose, the brain’s primary energy source. An article titled “Breakfast and the Brain: How Eating Breakfast Impacts School Performance,” from healthy-food-choices-in-schools.extension.org, states, “Children who eat a complete breakfast have been shown to work faster and make fewer mistakes in math problems and to perform better on vocabulary tests than those who ate only a partial breakfast. They also show improved concentration, alertness, comprehension, memory and learning.” When people say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it isn’t a fib. 

Breakfast is important, so why do so many students think they can go without it? In the student survey, one student said breakfast is important because “It gets your metabolism boosted and allows your body to function.” Another student explained, “It helps to get your brain functioning and helps you to stay focused.” Every other student gave similar answers, yet over 50% of those students consistently skip breakfast. Why? Perhaps because they feel there isn’t another option, but there is. If you don’t have time, try preparing a meal the night before or setting your alarm 10-15 minutes earlier. If you aren’t hungry, try reducing the size of your evening meals or eating dinner earlier. Additionally, a healthy breakfast is the best way to receive the benefits breakfast can provide. Eating a healthy breakfast every morning may seem like a hassle, but it’s vital to caring for your body. 

Sources

Breakfast. Breakfast – Better Health Channel. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/breakfast  

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 28). 10 surprising things that can spike your blood sugar. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/spotlights/blood-sugar.html  

Healthy-Food-Choices-In-Schools. (2019, June 13). Breakfast and the brain: How eating breakfast impacts school performance. Healthy Food Choices in Schools. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://healthy-food-choices-in-schools.extension.org/breakfast-and-the-brain-how-eating-breakfast-impacts-school-performance/#:~:text=Children%20who%20eat%20a%20complete,%2C%20comprehension%2C%20memory%20and%20learning 

Mgunter. (2022, June 29). Do you really need to eat breakfast? Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-you-really-need-to-eat-breakfast/  

Why you should eat breakfast. Rush University System for Health. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.rush.edu/news/why-you-should-eat-breakfast