By Jennifer Schleman, APR   Date: 8/23/10

Today is back to school day for thousands of kids here in the Washington, DC area. Hitting the books means a change in the easy going summer routine and back to a stricter schedule. But it doesn’t mean that moms and kids should cut out breakfast!

According to The International Food Information Council Foundation’s 2009 Food & Health Survey, 93 percent of Americans agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, yet less than half (44 percent) are eating breakfast every day. This is not the best idea asresearch has found that kids (and grown-ups too) who eat breakfast are able to concentrate better and maintain a healthy body weight.

While breakfast comes in all forms – from the traditional cereal and milk with a glass of orange juice to eggs and toast to last night’s leftovers – research suggests that breakfast eaters consume more of the all-important servings of fruit, veggies, low-fat and fat-free dairy and whole grains throughout the day  than non-breakfast eaters.

So what should you serve your kids when you are all scrambling to get out the door in the morning? One of my friends says her kid will only eat yogurt and granola for breakfast. For another, it’s toaster pastries all the way for her kids.

Busy moms (and dads too!) can find helpful recipe ideas in our Healthy Kids & Families Recipe Round-up: Breakfast Bonanza section on our website.  Wow your kids with Applesaucy Oatmeal, French Toast with Tropical Fruit Salsa, or try the Perky Pita Pocket-to-Go.  The recipes are kid-friendly so the youngsters can help out in the morning.

For more tips on bringing breakfast back, visit the Breakfast Resources section on www.foodinsight.org. 

In the comments, tell us how you manage breakfast time for your busy family each morning. And have a great 2010-2011 school year!