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Show Getting a goo A start Morning meals are important for students of all ages Editor's Note: TV following article wm prepared exduiYety for the Clipper by Kay Jarr, of the Darto School Dto-trfct'l Dto-trfct'l Foods Program. Sht will contribute contri-bute articles to tkc Clipper regularly ab-oat ab-oat school foods sad district home economics eco-nomics activities. By KAY JARVIS Davis School District The mid-morning slump. It's the time of the morning when energy levels take a dive, comprehension seems to fizzle, and being alert takes a monumental effort. Virtually Virtual-ly everyone has suffered from it at one point or another, and students are no exception. However, studies indicate that eating breakfast can make a major difference in how drastically the slumps affect us. We have all heard repeatedly how important breakfast is. The body needs to be refueled (generally (general-ly it hasn't been fed for eight hours or more) in order to keep functioning function-ing the rest of the day and keep us moving. Going without breakfast is somewhat like deciding to start out across the desert with only a quarter quar-ter of a tank of gas in your car. It may take you a short distance, but sooner than you'd like, you're stranded. In order for students not to be mentally stranded, they need - to have a full nutrition tank before they leave for school. Statistics prove that students who skip breakfast take longer to make decisions, their work output is lower, their muscles aren't as steady, and their ability to concentrate concen-trate is lessened. In spite of all this, breakfast is the meal most likely to be skipped. Weight conscious teenagers feel skipping breakfast will keep their calorie intake down, but in reality, obese adolescents are more likely to skip breakfast than kids whose weights are normal.. Children can get one-third or more of their daily nutritional requirements re-quirements as set by the national nutrition research council by eating eat-ing school lunch. The school lunch program adheres to strict federal regulations and guidelines to meet those needs. The meal pattern balances ba-lances all four food groups in speci fic amounts. Different portion sizes are used for different age groups. The meal consists of a meat-meat meat-meat alternative such as fish, cheese or beans; a fruit or vegetable, veget-able, bread or acceptable replacement replace-ment (for example a taco shell is equal to a serving of bread) and milk. Getting this nutrition boost in the middle of the day is obviously beneficial mentally and helps keep emotions on a more even keel for the remainder of the day. In addition to feeding their bodies, it provides a time for social interaction with their peers where they can unwind and enjoy the company of friends. Parents can contribute by making certain the day begins with breakfast. Students Stu-dents need the nutritional help in keeping their thinking processes at peak levels for best performance. Here, then, is some "food for thought." Breakfast should supply the nutrients that may be lacking in other meals, such as the Vitamin C in orange juice. It should also include in-clude carbohydrates (sugar or starch) which increases blood sugar. As a result, slow reaction time is less likely. A different out--look other than the traditional fruit, cereal, pancakes and eggs, etc., may help. Enticing reluctant eaters with something a little more novel could be the key to getting them into the right frame of mind to combat com-bat the morning fades. For those hurry-up, stand-up breakfasts, a banana milkshake or an apple and a granola bar might be a welcome change of pace. Raisin bread and peanut butter is a quick, easy choice, or some orange juice and a handful of nuts and raisins. If there is a little more time available, avail-able, scrambled eggs in pita bread pockets with juice takes minimal time to prepare. Cold chicken on whole wheat toast can be an alternative. alter-native. Re-thinking what should or could be eaten for breakfast can widen the possibilities and probabilities prob-abilities of starting the day with strength and energy and maintaining maintain-ing it. Encouragement and imagination imagi-nation can make the difference. |
