Breakfast: why is it so important?
According to the guidelines for a correct Italian diet, breakfast is the meal that should provide about 15-20% of the daily energy . Nonetheless, it has been found that around 10-30% of Italian children skip breakfast, mainly due to lack of time or lack of appetite in the morning.
Breakfast is the first full of energy that interrupts the overnight fast, which is essential for tackling the morning’s activities.
Scientific studies have shown that skipping breakfast has a direct effect on daily performance which, for children, translates into a decrease in attention and lower physical resistance.
Conversely, an adequate breakfast leads to a greater sense of satiety and leads to more efficient metabolic regulation with an overall positive effect on hunger control.
A consistent correlation has also been found between skipping breakfast and an increased risk of developing obesity.
Breakfast: what to eat?
Not all breakfasts are equal in terms of the supply of useful nutrients.
Shortbread biscuits and brioches bring a high energy load, being above all rich in sugars and saturated fats, while they do not have enough fiber to guarantee that sense of satiety which should last at least until the time of the morning snack .
Preferring wholemeal products such as cereals, biscuits or muesli combined with fresh fruit or juice, allows you to have a higher intake of fibre, vitamins and minerals.
The addition of a cup of milk or yogurt is excellent as a source of highly bioavailable calcium.
If in the morning we feel like we don’t have time to stop for breakfast, a great trick is to set the table the night before going to bed, with all the foods that don’t need to be kept in the fridge. Before tackling a hectic day, sitting together around the table for a few minutes is a great way to start with the right energy.
The habit of having breakfast must therefore be promoted and maintained above all within the family. For children it becomes an educational message, it becomes part of a healthy lifestyle that includes a varied diet and daily physical activity.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.