A healthy, tasty breakfast is fuel for kids

Convincing your child to eat a healthy, hearty breakfast can easily degenerate into a frustrating daily struggle. On mornings when your child is sleepy, grumpy, and too listless to eat; when you are harried and need to move quickly to make up for lost time, it can be tempting to give up and allow your child to do as he pleases — just as long as he isn’t tardy for school. But when he constantly misses breakfast, it becomes a cause for worry. Various studies, after all, support the contention that the meal “refuels” the body and brain after a night of sleep. It kick-starts metabolism, and children who eat a good breakfast do better at school. 

It should be emphasized that the kind of the food served at breakfast is important, however. High-calorie snacks that are saturated with sweeteners, preservatives, additives, and artificial coloring will not do. Neither will artery-clogging fatty foods or highly salted items.  Starting the day right means opting for breakfasts that are tasty, yet nutritious. Ideally, the meal is convenient to prepare and easy to eat.   

Thus, the value of whole grain cereal as breakfast food is gaining even more attention. John Athanatos, global director of Nutrition & Regulatory Affairs at Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW) visited Manila recently and had a chance to present the results of various studies supported by CPW. This is a joint venture between Nestle and General Mills which markets the Nestle Breakfast Cereal brands. 

As part of an overall healthy lifestyle, cereal breakfast consumption may play a role in maintaining adequate nutrient intake. “Children consuming breakfast cereal show improved nutrient intakes,” the studies indicate. “Cereal consumption was related to increased intake of fiber, calcium, iron, folic acid, vitamin C, zinc; and decreased intake of fat and cholesterol.” 

But cereals made from refined grains will not do, and the distinction “whole grain” is key to be able to reap the benefits. More than just a rich source of dietary fiber, whole grains are a good source of antioxidants like vitamin B and vitamin E. The vitamins and minerals are contained in the germ and bran of the grain, which are lost in the refining process. And while most people are aware that fruits and vegetables are a good source of phytochemicals, whole grains are also a good source of phenolic compounds. “Whole wheat flour has higher phytochemical content and antioxidant activity than refined wheat flour.”   

John Athanatos, global director of Nutrition & Regulatory Affairs at Cereal Partners Worldwide: “Cereal consumption was related to increased intake of fiber, calcium, iron, folic acid, vitamin C, zinc, and decreased intake of fat and cholesterol.”

That whole grain breakfast cereals matter is bolstered further by studies indicating a link between whole grain cereal consumption and childhood obesity. “Frequent breakfast cereal consumption is associated with a lower body mass index (BMI) in both boys and girls. It is associated with 33-percent reduced risk of being overweight.” This result should be easy to explain and comprehend. Since dietary fiber provides bulk, the feeling of satiety is maintained longer. Our kids will not be tempted to gorge on junk food and unhealthy snacks if they have a feeling of fullness. Still, John Athanatos is cautious about making sweeping interpretations and generalizations about the study. “While more epidemiological data associating whole grain with reduced BMI and abdominal adiposity is strong and consistent based on the total body of evidence, more intervention studies are needed.” 

But as parents who are concerned about the health of our children, the additional information about Nestle’s whole grain cereals is most welcome. In light of the news on the Internet that some of the fruits we thought healthy are actually heavily treated with pesticides; or considering that our children love to snack on crunchy treats, it would be beneficial if we encourage them to opt for whole grain cereals instead. Sure, munching on breakfast cereal like these are chips is unconventional. But who cares about conventionality, when our primary consideration is healthy food for our offspring. Right?