Opinion: Teens, get smart! Breakfasthelps your brain and heart

In this Tuesday, April 29, 2014 photo, Biden Arias-Romers, left, and Nathaniel Cossio-Boatwright, eat a mal at the PatrickHenry Elementary School in Alexandria, Va. Photo: AP/Susan Walsh

Dear kids who skip breakfast: Please stop! About a quarter of U.S. teens think the firstmeal of the day is unnecessary, studies show. I live with a teenager. So I have heard yourreasons. And I respect them, truly I do.

First of all, you are tired. I mean, really, really tired. Too tired to eat, in fact. You are growinglike a weed, your homework and extracurricular activities are endless, and your sense oftime is shifting - so you naturally stay up later. When you are so fatigued in the morning, theidea of eating breakfast does not sound good. You are not hungry, and some of you mightactually feel nauseated.

Many of you follow the example set by your parents, who chug coffee and skip food, in themorning. It's not your fault; you thought they knew best.

Others think you can stay at the same weight or lose weight by skipping breakfast.

I understand this reasoning: I was a teenager once. But could you please take a fewminutes to hear me out? Skipping breakfast can cause you to gain weight, lower your testscores and develop heart disease. Yes, seriously.

By Casey Seidenberg, Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff on 05.22.16 Word Count 618

Feed Your Brain

Test scores of children who do not eat breakfast are lower than those who eat a well-balanced meal. Children who eat breakfast do better in class, pay more attention, havegreater attendance and are less hyperactive in school. So if you find yourself unable to payattention in a class, think back to what you ate that morning. The truth might be that yourteacher isn't so boring after all.

Eat Well, Grow Right

You are growing at a fast speed, and your brain and your body are built out of the foodsyou choose to eat.

Studies show that kids who do not eat a healthy breakfast tend to eat more junk foodduring the day. But, children who have breakfast also eat more vegetables, fruits and othergood foods.

Kids, look at it this way: You get only one shot to grow, so don't mess it up.

Breakfast Food For A Better Mood

Skipping breakfast can make you tired, grouchy and unable to sit still. The word "hangry"has a spot in the dictionary for a reason. It really happens.

Good Start, Strong Heart

Breakfast is more important to your body than any other meal because the time betweendinner and breakfast is so long. Eating within two hours after you wake up helps yourblood sugar. This means you have a smaller chance of developing heart disease ordiabetes and becoming overweight.

Recipe For A Healthy Weight

Breakfast eaters tend to have more energy and are less likely to be obese. So, skippingbreakfast isn't such a great way to lose weight.

I know you are smart, so try some of these ways to squeeze in a bite before school:

-Stock your fridge with breakfast-to-go choices, such as Greek yogurt, low-sugar granolabars, hard-boiled eggs, trail mix, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, fruit or beef jerky.

-Pack a breakfast to eat after your ride to school when you may feel hungrier.

-Sip a smoothie. Cold liquid might seem easier to swallow when you are too tired to chew.

-Plan the next day's breakfast the night before. This way you don't waste any brain poweron it in the morning. Ask your parents to help have it ready.

-Go to bed 30 minutes earlier, so you aren't as tired in the morning.

-Get up 10 minutes earlier, so your body has more time to wake up and get hungry.

Casey Seidenberg is co-founder of a nutrition education company inWashington, D.C. She wrote “The Super Food Cards."

Quiz

1 How does the information in the section "Feed Your Brain" support the article's main idea?

(A) by listing several reasons why it is best to eat breakfast

(B) by presenting an example of a student who eats breakfast

(C) by describing the causes and effects of skipping breakfast

(D) by providing evidence that shows the benefits of eating breakfast

2 Which of the following details would be MOST important to include in a summary of the article?

(A) About a quarter of U.S. teens think the first meal of the day is unnecessary,studies show.

(B) When you are so fatigued in the morning, the idea of eating breakfast doesnot sound good.

(C) Skipping breakfast can cause you to gain weight, lower your test scores anddevelop heart disease.

(D) Kids, look at it this way: You get only one shot to grow, so don't mess it up.

3 What is the author's MAIN goal in writing the article?

(A) to convince children to eat breakfast

(B) to make parents aware of their breakfast choices

(C) to alert teachers that students might not be eating breakfast

(D) to argue that breakfast is more important than any other meal

4 Which sentence from the article BEST describes the author's point of view on eating breakfast?

(A) Skipping breakfast can cause you to gain weight, lower your test scores anddevelop heart disease.

(B) Test scores of children who do not eat breakfast are lower than those whoeat a well-balanced meal.

(C) Studies show that kids who do not eat a healthy breakfast tend to eat morejunk food during the day.

(D) Breakfast is more important to your body than any other meal because thetime between dinner and breakfast is so long.

Answer Key

1 How does the information in the section "Feed Your Brain" support the article's main idea?

(A) by listing several reasons why it is best to eat breakfast

(B) by presenting an example of a student who eats breakfast

(C) by describing the causes and effects of skipping breakfast

(D) by providing evidence that shows the benefits of eating breakfast

2 Which of the following details would be MOST important to include in a summary of the article?

(A) About a quarter of U.S. teens think the first meal of the day is unnecessary,studies show.

(B) When you are so fatigued in the morning, the idea of eating breakfast doesnot sound good.

(C) Skipping breakfast can cause you to gain weight, lower your test scoresand develop heart disease.

(D) Kids, look at it this way: You get only one shot to grow, so don't mess it up.

3 What is the author's MAIN goal in writing the article?

(A) to convince children to eat breakfast

(B) to make parents aware of their breakfast choices

(C) to alert teachers that students might not be eating breakfast

(D) to argue that breakfast is more important than any other meal

4 Which sentence from the article BEST describes the author's point of view on eating breakfast?

(A) Skipping breakfast can cause you to gain weight, lower your test scores anddevelop heart disease.

(B) Test scores of children who do not eat breakfast are lower than those whoeat a well-balanced meal.

(C) Studies show that kids who do not eat a healthy breakfast tend to eat morejunk food during the day.

(D) Breakfast is more important to your body than any other meal becausethe time between dinner and breakfast is so long.