5 Brain-Boosting Breakfasts For Hungry Minds

While many people have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, not everyone knows exactly why this statement is true. During the night, the body goes into fasting mode. This means that stores of glucose, the main source of energy for every cell in the body, are in short supply once you wake up. Eating breakfast helps to replenish those glucose levels to provide you the energy you need to get started and the alertness needed to perform at school.

Many people wake up in the morning and don’t feel hungry, so they assume that they can skip breakfast until their stomachs decide it’s time to eat again. But this can be a mistake. Even if you don’t feel hungry in the morning, skipping breakfast can lead to a variety of different health issues. Not eating in the morning has been linked to hypertension, high blood pressure, and obesity. But what does eating breakfast do for the brain and mind? Read on for all you need to know about breakfast and the brain (including five healthy brain-boosting breakfast ideas).

How can I increase my brain power in the morning?
There are many things a person can do in the morning to help boost their brain power for the rest of the day. One such thing is eating breakfast, but there are other activities that can be done after you wake up that will help. Something you should do every morning is drink water. Since water is required for many aspects of health, including making neurotransmitters and hormones that can affect brain performance, it’s vital to get your water intake started first thing every morning. Research has also showed that not drinking water in the morning can impair memory and reduce attention span.

Opening the curtains to let some natural light in will also help with regulating your circadian rhythm. This, in turn, will set the internal clock, helping you become more alert after getting out of bed. Light exercise in the morning will also help oxygen and nutrients get to the brain better. This means that if you exercise in the morning and get a good nutritious breakfast, the nutrients you eat will be able to get to your brain better and power you through the day.

Does breakfast boost your brain power?
Research has found that eating or not eating breakfast can have a serious impact on a child’s grades. As mentioned above, the fuel that the brain needs is glucose, and without a steady stream of it, the brain will lose some of its power. After a night of rest, you need to refuel the brain for optimal performance throughout the day. From a scientific standpoint, studies done over the last 70 years have found that students who eat breakfast do better in school than the ones who skip it altogether.

What should a student eat in the morning?
While eating anything in the morning can help restore the body’s levels of glucose, what you eat also plays a role in your brain power throughout the day. According to research, eating sugary foods in the morning (think typical American breakfast fare like cereals or pastries) can actually hinder academic performance throughout the day, even though energy has been restored.

Certain cognitive abilities such as attention span and memory can decrease due to an overload of sugar, which can cause the body to produce and release high levels of cortisol. Cortisol then impedes a student’s ability to pay attention, remember lessons, and sit quietly in class.

Reaching for whole foods that are rich in vitamins and nutrients is the best option when it comes to eating breakfast before going to school. These foods will give your child the best chance at better academic performance.

What is the best breakfast for students?
The best types of breakfasts will be full of nutrients and vitamins so that the body can get a better jump start on the day. The best foods to include in your breakfast are berries, leafy greens, lean proteins, fatty fish, eggs, and nuts. All these foods have been proven to be associated with better brain function.

All that being said, here are five options for a healthy breakfast that will boost brain function throughout the day…

1. Eggs with salmon hash. By combining eggs and salmon for breakfast, you can ensure that your child is getting the nutrients they need to go about their school day with their best foot forward. Serving berries on the side or some vegetables inside the salmon hash can be a great way to add a little extra nutrition. 
2. Berry, chia, and mint smoothie. Not every parent has the time to make elaborate breakfasts before sending their children off to school, but that doesn’t mean breakfast has to be unhealthy. A smoothie made with antioxidant-rich berries, chia seeds, and mint is a great way to boost brain power for the day.
3. Leafy greens on toast. Toast is a quick and easy way to get breakfast, especially if it’s whole grain bread. Quick-fry some leafy greens of your choice and top your toast with then, pairing with a dash of creamy yogurt for a delicious and nutritious breakfast option.
4. Apple oatmeal muffins. No one has time to bake muffins from scratch in the morning, but apple oatmeal muffins are a great make-ahead breakfast that will last all week. Using oatmeal, apples, and nuts, these muffins are sure to help your child get ready to perform at their best.
5. Overnight chia pudding. For another make-ahead breakfast, chia pudding is a great option. It tastes like dessert, which your child will love, but also provides all the nutrients they need to have a great day at school.

While it can be difficult to get your child to switch from no breakfast or a sugary breakfast to something healthy, it’s not impossible with the right foods. Healthy food in the morning will help your child pay attention to their studies, remember their lessons, and perform better academically throughout the school year – and for the rest of their life.

 

Featured image by Brenda Godinez on Unsplash