Problematic Eating Habits / Question
Published: March 27, 2000
Dear TeenHealthFX,
Is it really important to eat breakfast? I don't usually and I have heard that it affects your performance in school. Is this true? What should I eat for breakfast to give me the best boost in the morning?
Signed: Eating Breakfast
Dear Eating Breakfast,
Breakfast is really important and a meal that should not be skipped. It gives you that initial burst of energy after a good night sleep. Breakfast helps you perform better all day long and helps you to feel good. When you do not eat breakfast, your body does not function optimally and is working off of stored energy from the night before. Without a good breakfast, your concentration, coordination and sometimes your mood are affected because your brain may not be getting enough "fuel" to work properly. Often people who skip breakfast tend to overeat later in the day because they are so hungry. Eating breakfast will help you eat in a more balanced way throughout the day. So, eat breakfast to start your day and eat healthy all day long following the food pyramid.
A good example of a healthy breakfast can include:
- A bowl of cereal with milk & a glass of juice or piece of fruit
- 1 yogurt & a piece of fruit
- 1 bagel with cream cheese or peanut butter & a glass of milk or juice
- 1 muffin with margarine & a glass of milk or juice
- 1 cereal bar & a glass of milk or juice
- 1 granola bar & a glass of milk or juice
- 1 instant breakfast drink
- 2 slices of toast with peanut butter & a glass of milk or juice
Eating breakfast each morning starts your day out right.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Teens whose parents talk to them regularly about the dangers of drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those whose parents don’t, yet only 1 in 4 teens report having these conversations. 
