Breakfast Important for Teens

Both Moms and scientists agree: breakfast really is the most important meal of the day.  A recent study in teens showed that eating breakfast, particularly one high in protein, reduced hunger later in the day. Teens who skipped breakfast showed increased activity in regions of the brain associated with reward-driven eating behaviors.

Ten teenagers were asked to skip breakfast, eat a typical breakfast of cereal with milk or consume a high-protein meal of Belgian waffles and yogurt.  Researchers then compared functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) among the groups and found that those who skipped breakfast showed increased brain activity associated with hunger and food cravings prior to lunchtime. Those who ate the high protein breakfast verses the low protein meal showed the least amount of food driven brain activity. When participants were asked about feelings of hunger, those who skipped breakfast reported a greater urge to overeat at lunchtime. Don’t feel like you have to cook a huge breakfast for your teen every morning though, cereal (particularly high protein) is fine. In a USDA study of over 9,000 adolescents, cereal was found to be a healthy breakfast choice for adequate nutrition and weight management.

Source: FYI Living
http://fyiliving.com/diet/nutrition/why-breakfast-really-is-the-most-important-meal/