Brainy Breakfast

Back to School time!  I can hardly believe it myself!  Where did the summer go?  I know for our family, we had an amazing summer spending time with friends and family.  Long, lazy days at the beach, camping adventures and peaceful time spent on the lake, just to name a few of our activities.  

Now it's back to reality.....  

This back to school season, I want to educate parents about the importance of brainy breakfasts, nutrient-dense lunch and dinners and healthy after school snacks. 

In my first installment of Back to School tips; Begin the Day with a Brainy Breakfast!

Above all other organs, the brain is most affected – for better or worse – by what you eat. You put junk food into a child’s brain, you get junk behavior and junk learning. Scientific studies show that children who begin the day with a brainy breakfast:

Made higher grades
Were more attentive and participated better in class
Were less likely to be diagnosed with A.D.D. or learning disabilities
Handled complex learning tasks better
Missed fewer school days because of illness
The main ingredients of a brainy breakfast are:

Protein, which perks up the brain
Fiber-filled carbs, which provide a steady supply of fuel
Omega-3 fats, which build smart brain cells
Minerals, such as calcium and iron, which help brain biochemistry work better
Here are some tips for brainy back-to-school breakfasts from the Sears’ family kitchen:

Whole-grain waffles or pancakes topped with blueberries and peanut butter
Oatmeal with blueberries and yogurt
Whole-wheat banana nut bread and yogurt
½ cup low-fat cottage cheese in a scooped-out cantaloupe half
Whole-wheat tortilla wrapped around scrambled eggs and diced tomatoes
Veggie omelet, whole-wheat toast, and fruit
Peanut butter and banana slices on a whole-wheat English muffin with low-fat milk
Almond-strawberry yogurt cup. Layer the yogurt and strawberries (or another fruit, such as blueberries or chopped apple, peaches, or pineapple) in a small bowl. Drizzle honey over the top if plain yogurt is used. Sprinkle with almonds and/or flax-seed meal.
Zucchini pancakes. This is a long-standing Sears’ favorite that even our toddlers enjoyed. Add a cup of shredded zucchini to whole-wheat pancakes.
A fruit and yogurt smoothie

Besides a brainy breakfast, send your child to school with a healthy snack. Those busy little bodies and brains run out of fuel mid-morning and mid-afternoon, the times when learning and behavioral problems are most likely to appear. Our favorite snack: Go nuts! Nuts are the perfect snack because they provide the perfect balance of healthy fats, healthy carbs, and protein. Make your own trail mix: let your children pick out their favorite nuts and add dried fruit. For school snacks, be safe and avoid peanuts because of possible peanut allergy. A handful of nuts for a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack is just what the school-doctor orders.

*Information from Dr.Sears Wellness Institute  

I hope this information was helpful to you.  There are lots of great suggestions to start your child's day of right.

A favorite breakfast in our house is pancakes or waffles with a side of fresh berries.  Both my children also take an Omega fish oil supplement to boost their brain power.  

I wish you all much luck and love as we all transition into this new school year!  May we enter it with a refreshed mind, a light heart and a sense of humor.

Stay tuned for the next Back to School installment!

Much love,
Alyssa