It's true — kids need breakfast to jumpstart their day! Breakfast keeps kids on target for meeting their nutrient needs and for being ready to learn. Research shows:

• A nutritious breakfast from the Five Food Groups provides children with about one-fourth of their daily nutrient requirements. Kids who eat breakfast are more likely to meet these needs.

• Breakfast skippers are less likely to make up for nutrients they miss at breakfast later in the day.

• When children eat breakfast, it's easier for them to concentrate on learning, think clearly and be on their best behavior.

Four strategies for making breakfast a habit in your house:

1. Be a role model.
If you want your child to eat breakfast, eat it yourself!

2. Keep breakfast foods on hand.
Have at least two easy-to-serve items from each food group. For more information check out our Breakfast in a Hurry Chart.

3. Make it easy.
Keep breakfast foods highly visible and in convenient spots for kids to grab. For a portable breakfasts, use our handy chart to mix and match ingredients for nutritious breakfast sandwiches.

4. Try school breakfast.
Encourage kids to eat school breakfast if they don't get a chance to eat at home.

Moms Move at Super Speed
A nationwide "Hectic Breakfast Survey" found that mothers are superheroes every morning! According to the survey, moms average a staggering 6.3 different tasks within an average breakfast period of 9.3 minutes. In addition to making breakfast:

• 75 percent of moms help with backpacks and school books
• 62 percent help with hair brushing
• 48 percent help with packing lunches

Even on the busiest days, stress the importance of breakfast so that children establish the habit of powering up in the morning.