Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day, and many students at HAHS eat a meal before classes start. It should not be ignored as it can have many benefits that will help students while they learn. Still, people who eat breakfast have different reasons for what they eat.
Students should primarily eat breakfast because of its effects on learning. The brain has a large energy requirement, so breakfast helps keep it fueled to prevent learning detriments. For instance, those who have a meal before school perform about 18% better on tests, according to Nationwide Children’s. The effect was only studied on children, but high schoolers would likely have a similar benefit, as they are still growing. Conversely, those who skip breakfast can feel lethargic due to having to lower blood sugar levels, according to WebMd. As such, breakfast should be eaten regularly to avoid the negative effects on daily functioning.
The majority of students eat breakfast so they do not feel hungry throughout the day, though their meals differ based on their goals and priorities. HAHS senior Brayden Bailey states that he eats bacon cheese biscuits with a soda for breakfast. He finds it tolerable as a daily meal and values its fast preparation. Without breakfast, he would be hungry throughout the day, though he does not believe it would affect his ability to learn. Another senior, Joshua Castro, explains that his breakfast consists of two peanut butter sandwiches with a cup of hot cocoa. He eats it regularly because of its high protein and chocolatey taste. If he skipped breakfast, he would feel restless from being on an empty stomach.
Overall, students should make an effort to eat a filling breakfast that supports their performance in class. Moreover, those on a tight schedule should consider taking lunch from the cafeteria before class. While healthier meals are always encouraged, eating something is better than nothing.
For more information, visit https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2014/09/breakfast-on-the-brain-why-it-matters and https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/breakfast-lose-weight.
