We set out to discover exactly how important breakfast really is – in particular for children who are going to school. We suspected it could enhance their ability to learn, concentrate and remember- basically get their brains in gear for a morning at school. The brain is a high-energy organ. Despite making up only about 2% of your body’s weight, it consumes up to 20% of your total energy supply. When you’re sleeping, the brain can account for two-thirds of your energy expenditure, which is a lot – and things that use a lot of energy need a lot of fuel.

The brain’s fuel is a type of sugar called glucose which can be gained from eating some carbohydrate-rich food – like cereal or bread.

These are some top tips on how to energizing the children:

1. Children need a regular supply of energy: structured meals and snacks provide this. If meals and snacks are planned, they are more likely to be healthier choices.
2. Breakfast is an important meal. After a night’s sleep, our bodies have just about used up their glucose store. Our brain functions exclusively on glucose, so breakfast helps us top up on brain fuel.
3. Try carbohydrate foods that are digested and released slowly into the blood. Sometimes called low glycaemic index (GI) foods, these carbohydrates provide a steady supply of fuel over the morning.
4. Porridge or muesli are low GI, mini shredded wheat make a good runner-up in the GI stakes.
5. For toasting, choose wholemeal breads which have the highest content of intact grains. And baked beans for an easy cooked breakfast.
6. Fresh fruit, try with yoghurt or put on top of breakfast cereal.

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