Almost 10 percent of Americans skip breakfast each day, according to a survey by the the NPD Group. Of the 10 percent who omit the morning meal, eight percent do so because they don’t have enough time.
Missing breakfast, however, can have a large impact on a person’s day. Not eating breakfast makes people more hungry as the day goes on, so students start eating more food than they should, RBHS nurse Tammy Adkins said.
“Whenever someone comes in and says they have a headache or stomach ache, the first question I ask them is whether they had breakfast or not,” Adkins said. “Eating a good breakfast just gives your mind the boost it needs in the morning.”
While one of the main reasons to skip breakfast is a lack of time, junior Jonathan Thomas said it can be managed. Thomas, who has swimming practice each day before school, has even less time than others to consume breakfast.
“I have to wake up around six so I can attend practice at seven. I am always running low on time, but for me, I have to eat breakfast not only [so] I can swim well, but also to concentrate in class,” Thomas said. “I only have 30 minutes to eat and get ready, but I manage to eat a healthy breakfast because it is so important.”
Adkins said although it may seem fine in the morning to skip breakfast, it really has a big toll on students as the day goes on.
Students who eat breakfast attend school 1.5 more days on average than their meal-skipping peers, according to a study by CNN. Adkins agreed and said breakfast, performance, focus and school have a big correlation.
“I read somewhere that people perform worse in their workplace if they don’t eat breakfast,” Adkins said. “There definitely is a relation between how students do in school and whether they eat breakfast or not.”
Cindy Foley, a nutritionist at the University of Missouri, said other than its effect on school performance, skipping breakfast has many repercussions that affect students’ futures. For example, Foley said skipping breakfast can increase the risk for disorders such as diabetes or heart disease.
“I only have 30 minutes to eat and get ready, but I manage to eat a healthy breakfast because it is so important.” Jonathan Thomas, junior”
Thomas experiences symptoms similar to Foley. When he omits breakfast from his morning routine, he has severe migraines. In addition to migraines, skipping breakfast can cause dizziness due to a lack of nutrients the brain needs to work.
“If I don’t eat breakfast one day, then I just can’t do anything because I get such a bad headache,” Thomas said. “That causes me to not concentrate properly, and it’s basically like not being in class.”
To avoid this problem, Foley said making a quick breakfast with high protein is the most efficient way to go. Last year, a study from the University of Missouri found that women who ate a high protein breakfast feel more full for the day than those who have not had protein for breakfast.
“Eat some type of protein. Protein not only gives you [energy], but also fills you up quicker so it takes less time,” Foley said. “Basically, my advice is find a way to get some type of food in your stomach before you leave for school. Whether it be toast or cereal, it wakes you up and allows you to start your daily routine.”
Photo by Devesh Kumar.
