Teens Need to Eat a Protein-packed Breakfast
According to researchers at the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, roughly 60 percent of teens and pre-teens habitually skip breakfast up to four times a week,The researchers compared the benefits of consuming a normal-protein breakfast (13 grans) to a high-protein breakfast and found that the high-protein breakfast, which contained 35 grams of protein, prevented increases in body fat, reduced daily food intake and feelings of hunger, and stabilized glucose levels among overweight teens who would normally skip breakfast. The researchers found that "the group of teens who ate high-protein breakfasts reduced their daily food intake by 400 calories and lost body fat mass, while the groups who ate normal-protein breakfast or continued to skip breakfast gained additional body fat."
According to the researchers, the key to eating 35 grams of protein is to consume a combination of high-quality proteins including low-fat or skim milk, eggs, lean meats and Greek yogurt.
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Looking for Better Math Skills for Your Kids? Get Them to do Cardio!
A new study by researchers at the Beckman Institute for Science and Technology of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reveals that 9- and 10-year-old children who are aerobically fit tend to have significantly thinner gray matter than their "low-fit" peers. Thinning of the outermost layer of brain cells in the cerebrum is associated with better mathematics performance, say the researchers. Keep your kids active.Create a School Lunch Schedule
Having difficulty coming up with good options for your child's school lunches (or your own, for that matter)? Make a detailed weekly menu, with your child helping and approving every meal. Do this every Saturday or Sunday, and make it fancy, using lots of colors. Make sure to pick healthy snacks your child approves. Also, make sure all sandwiches are on 100 percent whole-wheat bread.More: A Mom's Thoughts During Back-to-School Registration
Say No to Junk Food Before an Exam.
Want to make sure that your kids get the highest grades possible? Avoid simple carbs (such as candy, bagels, cookies and baked goods) and anything with a lot of sugar, including soda, before they take an exam. Studies show that the quick spike in blood sugar results in an equally quick dip in mood, alertness and energy. What goes up, as they say, must come down. Salty junk foods, such as chips, also depress energy levels. Plus, junk foods are filled with unhealthy fats that make your organs work harder and your energy drag. Also, make sure your kids don't stuff themselves -- it can make them sleepy.
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