Healthy breakfasts put students on fast track to success

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No child should have to go to school running on empty.

Even if they just have time to grab a chunk of bannock with milk before catching the school bus, or a quick piece of pizza with fruit juice before they strap on the rollerblades and hit the sidewalks.

"For the nursery school set at the Aboriginal Headstart Program in Lloydminster, an early bird breakfast really does gets kids on track for a good day at school. It helps to make them more alert and able to pay attention," said cook and special care aid at the school, Della Buchta. "Best of all, it's colorful, tasty and fun, especially when the kids have a hand in putting it together. It's a really positive part of our program. And they are more apt to eat it if they help to make it, something creative like apple smiles with marshmallow teeth or celery wagons loaded with cream cheese, peanut butter and carrot slice wheels."

Making breakfast fun is a great way to get kids into the healthy eating habit.

"Children at this age really do seem to go for variety, color and small portions," explained Buchta. "Fruit slices, veggies, dips, cheese sticks, muffins and toast are not just good solutions for an early morning snack attack. They also set the stage for good eating habits, focusing on natural healthy food. The children also enjoy the hands-on approach in our 'Kinder Cooking' program. Having a chance to put together a 'rabbit food' salad. Making snack trays full of traditional taste treats like bannock, smoked salmon and fresh berries and sharing it with the rest of the class. And they think that it's really cool that boys can learn to cook."

It's all part of a lifelong learning package, focusing on the overall health of the children as well as promoting good dental habits. Fruit instead of candies, muffins instead of sugary cookies. And with an Aboriginal student population of 50 per cent Native and 50 per cent Metis in the Headstart program, diabetes is always a concern, said Buchta.

"One of the ways that the school addresses the concern of diabetes among three-, four- and five-year-olds is a continued strong focus on natural healthy foods served at breakfast, lunch, mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack," Lisa Zackowski, executive director of Headstart explained.

"Diabetes is something that is a very important health issue among parents and teachers of Aboriginal children. The real need is to address a genetic predisposition to diabetes with healthy dietary habits formed early on in life. The goal being to help keep borderline diabetes from turning into full blown diabetes later on in life. Healthy food served in small portions at regular intervals to keep kids alert, healthy and happy," she said.

Zackowski was adamant about every child's right to enjoy good nutrition in Canada.

"Child hunger is an issue that Canadians should never have to address. No child in this country should be without good nourishing food. Kids who steal at a very early age are probably running on empty as far as good food goes. It's a justifiable motive to steal when you are just a kid. When you see that other kids have a good lunch packed for them at home while you are left out in the cold. Right and wrong doesn't mean much when you are hungry," said Zackowski.

"An important part of developing good moral behavior is in the hands of both parents and teachers. Parents sending the kids to school ready, willing and able to learn. Teachers making sure that all the bases are covered, including essentials like breakfasts and hot lunches for kids who really need it.

"A healthy breakfast is so important, because breakfast feeds your brain. Without some energy first thing in the morning, your body just doesn't move," Zackowski added. "Kids who are hungry all day just can't focus. They get tired and grouchy when their tummies are growling and they can't think about much else. That's why we're here at Headstart. To give our Aboriginal kids a real edge, a better chance to succeed in the mainsream.