Breakfast Brain Boost?

Posted by Jill Harris May 31, 2008

Australian researchers have made a connection between teenagers’ breakfasts and their chance of developing depression, anxiety and “disobedience”. Although it’s impossible to call the relationship causal – there may be other factors besides just breakfast at work – this study offers some more evidence that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

The researchers suggest that combining food groups – fruits and vegetables, dairy and alternatives, meat and alternatives, and grains – leads to the intake of more nutrients than a single food-group breakfast.

Interestingly, most breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamins and minerals, precisely to make them a more “complete” breakfast choice. But nothing beats real food like fruits, whole grains, nuts and vegetables.

Can vegetarians and vegans reap the potential benefits of a balanced breakfast? Absolutely. And while children were the focus of this and other breakfast studies, adult breakfast-eaters have a chance to keep their blood sugar more level throughout the day, are less likely to overeat and less likely to be obese than non-breakfast-eaters.

Need balanced breakfast ideas? Try these recipes that contain all four food groups:

• Apple Cider or Banana Bread Oatmeal
• The Great Vegetarian Breakfast
• Berrylicious Smoothie (serve with toast or a mini-muffin)