by Christine O’Connell ’11

When I was younger, my mom continuously said, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” and with more enthusiasm than is acceptable for table talk at six in the morning. Annoyingly cheerful or not, Mom happened to be right. Eating breakfast can affect more than just your stomach rumbling loudly in third period. Opting out of breakfast before you start your day can greatly affect your weight.

According to the American Dietetic Association, more than half of all male teens and over two-thirds of female teens do not eat breakfast on a regular basis. Some teens think that skipping breakfast is an ideal way to eliminate calories if they are looking to shed a few pounds before spring break. However, studies show that eating breakfast will help jump start your metabolism, which helps with weight control and school performance. Researcher Dianne Neumark-Sztainer of University of Minnesota said in “Eating Breakfast May Beat Teen Obesity” by Jennifer Warner that, “eating a healthy breakfast may help adolescents avoid overeating later in the day and disrupt unhealthy eating patterns, such as not eating early in the day and eating a lot late in the evening.”

Granted, most of us are just trying to make it to first period on time (or at least show up), so we do not have the time to make a lavish breakfast of eggs, bacon, pancakes, etc. like Mom used to make on Saturday mornings while we watched cartoons. But there are options out there besides a boring piece of toast to fill your appetite.

An efficient breakfast should contain a balance of complex carbohydrates and protein. It takes just as much time to prepare a waffle as it does to prepare toast, and by adding berries or peanut butter, it makes it much tastier, more filling and healthier for you.

If you’re really in a rush, a good substitute to cooking a breakfast is opting for an energy bar. For example, South Beach Diet has energy bars with the flavors peanut butter and cranberry almond that are high in protein. My personal favorite brand of engery bar is Clif Bars, which come in a variety of flavors like Oatmeal Raisin Walnut. They are low in sodium, cholesterol and saturated fat but what makes them my favorite is that it keeps me full enough to make it to lunch.

If you have some extra time on a morning, cereal is the go-to option. Cheerios, for example, has only 100 calories per cup and has only one gram of sugar. Kellogg’s Special K Protein Plus is another good low sugar, low calorie cereal with five grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein per serving. One of the healthiest breakfasts you can have is good old Quaker Oats Oatmeal because each serving provides five grams of protein and four grams of fiber. Plus including fruit to the top can add flavor as well as increase nutritional value.

Even though studies have showed that many teens skip breakfast, and continue to skip more as they become older, you do not have to be part of the that statistic. You can maintain your weight simply by eating in the morning. So listen to Mom. She actually is right on this one.