Waking up in the morning, breakfast is far from our minds. We usually only think about what homework we forgot to do, tests we didn’t study for, or catching the bus. We ignore our parent’s warnings about breakfast being the most important meal of the day, not having enough energy during the day, or being hungry, and skip breakfast. Well, your parents were right. A healthy breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Trying to score well on a test? Eat a healthy breakfast! A study published in the journal “Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine” students who ate breakfast scored higher on math tests than students who skipped or seldom ate breakfast. According to the American Dietetic Association, children who eat breakfast have better problem solving skills, concentration, and hand-eye coordination. A study done on 319 teens (between ages 13 and 20) conducted by the “Journal of Adolescent Health” showed that eating high-energy foods for breakfast can improve your short-term memory.

Although it seems like skipping breakfast can help you lose weight, it actually increases your weight. In a study done by “Public Health Nutrition” children who skipped breakfast were more likely to eat more throughout the day, increasing their body mass index. Two studies done by the “Journal of the American Dietetic Association” proved that breakfast is important for weight loss. In a different study, 2,000 girls from age 9-19 were followed. They found that the irregular cereal eaters had a 13% higher chance of being overweight compared to regular cereal eaters.

A nutritional breakfast can also keep you healthy. Breakfast provides most of the nutrients you need every day. A study presented at American Heart Association’s annual conference in 2003 showed that breakfast eaters are not only less likely to be obese, but they also are more likely to have better blood sugar levels. Also, breakfast eaters have better cholesterol levels. In a 2011 study published in the journal “Nutrition Research and Practice,” they found that people who rarely ever ate breakfast consumed more fats and less nutrients like calcium, potassium, and fiber.

“Breakfast is important because it gives you the energy for the day,” declared 7th grader Nicholas Ruiz. Healthy breakfasts are essential, and they help you meet daily nutrient requirements, be more concentrated in school, and miss fewer days of school. All in all, breakfast is a significant contributor to your health.