Milk
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Despite knowing about the importance of breakfast to start our day on the right foot, many people often skip it for many reasons.  However, for students heading back at school, having a balanced breakfast high in protein is important for not only health reasons, but research also shows it helps them in school.   

Breakfast is the optimal time to consume protein and helping your child reach their protein goals can be as easy as adding a glass of milk.  Milk, regardless of type or flavor, has 8 grams of high-quality protein.   

Milk has 13 essential vitamins and minerals, and many are linked to health and nutritional benefits that can help your student not only conquer the day but have optimal performance at school.  Here are 5 ways adding milk and dairy at breakfast can help your student. 

1. High Quality Protein –

Students who eat a healthy and balanced breakfast high in protein have been shown to have increased concentration, get better grades, have better behavior and have fewer absences. Hunger affects a child’s ability to focus. One of the benefits of protein is that it helps us to feel fuller for longer periods of time. 

2. Importance of Vitamin D –

Consuming foods high in Vitamin D can contribute to keeping our immune system health and protect against respiratory diseases in general.  Milk, as well as yogurt and kefir have high levels of vitamin D, as well as many other nutrients also linked to healthier immune systems, such as potassium, selenium and zinc. 

3. Calcium –

As kids go through their normal growth patterns, it is important for them to have and develop strong bones.  Enter calcium. One glass of milk provides about 30 percent of the recommended daily intake of calcium. Combined with the other nutrients in milk, like Vitamin D, it also helps to protect against diabetes and high blood pressure. 

4. Helps Keep Kids Hydrated –

As kids start long days that also include physical exercise during recess and school sports, it is important for them to stay hydrated. Milk hydrates better than plain water as its nutrition composition includes natural electrolytes, carbohydrates and its fat content help to slow the stomach from emptying rapidly.  Chocolate milk is also a great alternative to sports drinks as it has lower sugar content and provides added nutritional benefits our children need. 

5. It’s easy to include –

Lack of time is among the highest reasons for people to skip breakfast.  Including a cup of milk for breakfast can be as easy as adding milk to a bowl of cereal or to some oatmeal.  Another time saving option is to include Greek yogurt, which has twice the amount of protein as regular yogurt, which can be used to create a smoothy. 

On behalf of Connecticut’s dairy farm families, Connecticut Dairy wishes all students a successful, safe and wonderful school year.  To learn more about the importance of breakfast click here.