Why is breakfast important?
“Breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Prince and Dine like a
Pauper” It’s a well known phrase, but do you follow it?
Breakfast provides many benefits to our health and wellbeing. Breakfast provides the body
and brain with fuel after an overnight fast – that’s where its name originates, breaking the fast!
Without breakfast you are effectively running on empty, like trying to start the car with no
petrol!
Breakfast supports cognitive function. Breakfast also restores glucose levels, an essential
carbohydrate that is needed for the brain to function. Breakfast provides energy, studies have
shown how eating breakfast can improve memory and concentration levels and it can also make
us happier as it can improve mood and lower stress levels.
Breakfast provides energy needs. People’s energy needs vary depending on activity levels
and life stage but typically men require more energy than women. Growing children require a lot
of energy, as an example boys aged 7-10 years should consume approximately 1970 Kcals per
day, and girls aged 7-10 years should consume approximately 1740 Kcals.