Give Your Children a Head Start - Enjoy a Healthy Breakfast

And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" John 6:35

The annual crowds at Flushing Meadows signal the unofficial end of Summer! This weekend millions will hit the beach or the lake or just hang out and enjoy the final weekend of Summer. For many children the new school year has already started.

One way we can help our beloved little ones as they embark upon another new school year is feed them a healthy breakfast before sending them off to school. Numerous studies have arrived at the conclusion that children do better in school when they start their day with a healthy breakfast!

To fire up your metabolism furnace, start with good nutritious breakfast

Here are some ways that you and your family can eat better:

Eat breakfast every day. Try a whole-grain cereal like raisin bran with fat-free or low-fat milk, or whole-wheat toast spread with jam. Enjoy some fruit with your breakfast too.

Teach kids that healthy foods taste good. Make macaroni and cheese with fat-free milk and low-fat cheese. Try a peanut butter (spread thin) and jam or preserves sandwich instead of a burger and fries.

Choose fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese instead of full-fat dairy products.

Choose whole-grain foods like whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, brown rice, or whole-wheat pasta more often than refined-grain foods, like white bread, white rice, and white pasta.

Snack on fruits and vegetables. Keep a bowl of fruit on the table, bags of mini carrots in the refrigerator, and boxes of raisins in the cupboard.

Do not keep a lot of sweets like cookies, candy, or soda in the house. Too many sweets can crowd out healthier foods.

You don't have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen or shell out a wallet full of money to eat well.

Buy foods that are easy to prepare, like pasta and tomato sauce, rice and beans, or canned tuna packed in water.

Plan ahead and cook enough food to have leftovers. Casseroles, meat loaf, and whole cooked chicken can feed your family for several days. (Be sure to freeze or refrigerate leftovers right away to keep them safe to eat.)

Buy fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season. Buy only as much as you will use, so they will not go bad.

Buy frozen or canned vegetables (no salt added) and canned fruit packed in juice. They are just as good for you as fresh produce, and will not go bad.

Try canned beans like kidney, butter, pinto, or black beans. They are loaded with protein, cost less than meat, and make quick and easy additions to your meals.

Maybe if we teach our children to enjoy eating healthy foods they will do better in school!