Ronald Kleinman, MD

Do breakfast eaters have an edge over kids who skip breakfast when it comes to classroom learning?
We don't want to promise that children who suddenly start eating breakfast are going to go up three math grades from a C to an A. Instead of singling out one thing to turn around a child's grades and behavior, ensure that all the elements of a healthy lifestyle are in there - plenty of exercise, a minimum amount of inactivity like TV viewing, and breakfast, for example. Not skipping meals and eating at least one meal a day with the family are all part of a healthy meal approach, too.

What should kids eat for breakfast?
It's pretty clear that it needs to be more than a couple of crackers and it needs to fit in with people's cultural practices. A school breakfast is supposed to supply 25 percent of selected, important nutrients. I think a good breakfast is one that includes one type of cereal or grain, fruit and a dairy product. Eggs or other proteins food are fine. It can be hot or cold; it really doesn't matter. It's a pretty traditional breakfast and a good one too.

What connection, if any, is there between childhood obesity and skipping breakfast?
I don't think we know for sure. I would frame it in the context of a healthy lifestyle. The closer children come to a healthy lifestyle, the less likely they are to be overweight. This is true for the entire family, too. If children skip breakfast, chances are good that other parts of their life aren't particularly healthy - they don't have a chance to be active, spend a lot of time watching TV or on the computer, don't eat with the family, eat fast food often, or have access to school vending machines that sell high calorie foods. All of these contribute to childhood obesity.

Do children who eat breakfast every day when they are young, more likely eat breakfast as they get older?
There is some emerging evidence that children who eat a wide variety of foods, including dairy products, fruits and vegetables and cereals early on are more likely to eat those as they get older. It's my opinion, and I think most people would confirm that an established family pattern of breakfast eating and eating at least one meal together as a family gives children the best chance for continuing eating breakfast.

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