Many studies in the past have shown the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast as the famous saying goes, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day". A latest study has showed that giving protein-rich breakfast to kids reduce their risk of eating too much during lunch.
Researchers has found that eating a high-protein breakfast like eggs keeps kids full longer than other types of breakfasts like oatmeal or cereals. This prevents them from eating too much high-calorie food at lunch.
Published in the journal Eating Behaviors, the researchers have concluded that a high-protein breakfast, however, does not last for the entire day but only affects a mid-day meal.
"I'm not surprised that the egg breakfast was the most satiating breakfast," said Dr. Tanja Kral, associate professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania.
She added that what surprised her was the response of kids that the egg breakfast did make the kids fuller than the cereal or oatmeal breakfast even if they ate less for lunch.
The researchers have looked at 40 kids aged 8 to 10 years old who consumed at 350-calorie breakfast of eggs, cereal and porridge. They played games with research staff and ate lunch after. This was done once a week for three consecutive weeks.
The researchers have asked series of questions on how hungry the children were the entire morning. Findings have shown that after eating the egg-breakfast containing whole wheat toast, scrambled eggs, 1 percent milk and diced peaches, the kids consumed lesser calories at lunch by about 70 percent, which is equivalent to one chocolate-chip cookie.
As little as 70 percent reduced calorie intake each day may significantly affect the risk of becoming overweight or obese. Eating beyond the recommended caloric intake of kids each day can cause excessive weight gain, which is associated with a range of diseases in the future.
According to the World Health Organization, the number of overweight or obese children aged 0-5 years old increased from 32 million in 1990 to about 42 million in 2013. Obese kids are at an increased risk to develop a variety of diseases as they become adults including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal problems, some cancer and even disability.
Photo: Clemens v. Vogelsang | Flickr
