Skipping Breakfast
Do you have a teenager in your house that just isn't that interested in breakfast? I do. I don't "force" her to eat breakfast but I try to put out some of the foods I know she will be more likely to fit in - like a small amount of fresh blackberries or a couple of strips of turkey bacon.
Skipping breakfast and eating more fast food have once again been shown to lead to overweight in the late teen years. Duh! We knew that. The lead author, Dr. Heather Niemeier explains that skipping breakfast can lead to greater levels of hunger later in the day, causing overeating, or the choosing of heavy foods that fill you up faster, but may not be very nutritious (ie. Fast food). We knew that too, didn't we?
According to this study (Journal of Adolescent Health December 2006) which looked at data from 30,000 adolescents and young adults and followed them over a 5-year period, that phase when adolescents are entering adulthood is a particularly vulnerable time. They found the number of participants considered "overweight" increased from 29% to 47% during that period and fast food was eating a little more often as well.
This is a time when these kids are entering the workforce or college and technically "on their own" so about all we can do as parents is explain to them what skipping breakfast does to you physiologically (see above) and perhaps give them some tips and food product suggestions (less sugar instant oatmeal, nutritionally balanced power bars, healthful smoothie and yogurt drink products, etc.) that might just help make eating breakfast do-able.
~~Elaine
Related Topics: On the Teen Scene, Moms Influence Teen Dieting, Weight
Technorati Tags: teens, breakfast, nutrition, obesity, diet
Skipping breakfast and eating more fast food have once again been shown to lead to overweight in the late teen years. Duh! We knew that. The lead author, Dr. Heather Niemeier explains that skipping breakfast can lead to greater levels of hunger later in the day, causing overeating, or the choosing of heavy foods that fill you up faster, but may not be very nutritious (ie. Fast food). We knew that too, didn't we?
According to this study (Journal of Adolescent Health December 2006) which looked at data from 30,000 adolescents and young adults and followed them over a 5-year period, that phase when adolescents are entering adulthood is a particularly vulnerable time. They found the number of participants considered "overweight" increased from 29% to 47% during that period and fast food was eating a little more often as well.
This is a time when these kids are entering the workforce or college and technically "on their own" so about all we can do as parents is explain to them what skipping breakfast does to you physiologically (see above) and perhaps give them some tips and food product suggestions (less sugar instant oatmeal, nutritionally balanced power bars, healthful smoothie and yogurt drink products, etc.) that might just help make eating breakfast do-able.
~~Elaine
Related Topics: On the Teen Scene, Moms Influence Teen Dieting, Weight
Technorati Tags: teens, breakfast, nutrition, obesity, diet
3 Comments:
Please help:
I am a teacher of students with severe handicaps. The school's breakfast consists of pop tarts, donuts, sugar pops, and pancakes all with extra sugar or syrup on top. The district office says it is inconvenient to heat and serve protein for breakfast. So the food is full of trans fat, no fiber and no protein.
Who can I call for help?
CHoward175@aol.com
Nuts are a great source of protien, no heating required. That's so rediculous that our schools are encouraging the bad eating habits. could they offer low fat yogurts and granolas? fresh or dried fruits?
Print some of the relevant articles from this website and share with the principal and whoever is/are incharge of providing the kids' breakfast.
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