Everyday Wellness in Brecksville: The Importance of Eating Breakfast

My kids have been in school for four days so far this year, and I’m already struggling to get them out of bed and to the breakfast table. I thought we would have at least one week of cheerful mornings when school started. 

It seems like I always hit the snooze button, woke up late and skipped breakfast regularly as a kid. I also remember being tired, crabby and hungry in school, whenever I did. 

Children who eat breakfast perform better in school, according to the Ohio Department of Health's Help Me Grow program. The program's website also says that eating breakfast can impact how kids learn and play and how good they feel.

Eating breakfast is good for everyone. According to the Ohio State University Extension, eating breakfast can help kids and adults in many ways, including:

• Increasing alertness and helping people perform better at school or work
• Promoting creativity, increasing attention span and improving memory
• Improving attitude and behavior

The website also says that breakfast can be quick and easy, and if typical breakfast foods aren’t appealing, breakfast can be anything healthy, like a sandwich, leftovers from dinner, a breakfast burrito or a fruit smoothie.

The Cleveland Clinic gives some ideas on their website in an article called "10 Breakfasts Under 10 Minutes," including creative ideas like bagel fruit pizza, a PB and raisin roll-up and a waffle sandwich.

There are also healthier options for a quick breakfast-to-go from some restaurants now. and  both have healthier options like oatmeal, granola or breakfast sandwiches on whole-grain breads. And if you eat at , they now serve oatmeal, as well.

So, to help get my kids up earlier, I’ve decided to buy my kids their own alarm clock. I’m hoping that the novelty of it will get them out of bed happily and on time, for a few days at least. I wonder if they sell one without a snooze button.