Kit Leffler

When Rob Ralston, Olathe freshman, wakes up in the morning the first thing he does is grab something to eat. Be it a granola bar and a bottle of apple juice from his room or an entire plate of eggs, bacon and toast from Oliver dining hall, he’s got to eat. “I’m just always hungry when I wake up,” he explains. After his meal, Ralston’s ready to start his day. For some students, it’s just that easy. Their bodies tell them it’s time to eat. But for others, breakfast seems like an insignificant time-waster. Lauren Jones, Wichita junior, says she’s not a morning person. She gets up in the morning, goes to class and then eats lunch. “I really don’t like breakfast food,”she says.

Listen Up

Watkins dietitian Anne Chapman says students need breakfast because it helps to regulate their metabolism. “The body has been in a fasting state for a number of hours,” she says. “Eating something soon after awakening sends the brain a message to speed up the body’s organs.” A study from the Loyola University in New Orleans shows that students who eat breakfast in the morning have higher memory retention than those who do not.

Think Balance

The best meals contain the most food groups, Chapman says. So don’t just grab a donut at the gas station on your way to class. Think variety when deciding what to eat. Chapman suggests a piece of whole

grain bread with a teaspoon of peanut butter, a glass of skim milk and a piece of fruit. It contains four of the five food groups, so it’s well-balanced.

Feel Good

The key is nutrition. Breakfast foods high in sugar are not healthy or helpful, Chapman explains. Fast-food breakfasts will leave you feeling sluggish with far more calories than you need to start the day. Breakfast cereals high in sugar will boost your blood sugar quickly so you feel temporarily energized, but soon after blood sugar levels plummet, leaving you feeling worn out and hungry again.

On the Run

Missed your first alarm and worried about making it to class on time? There are some alternatives to skipping the morning meal. Chapman says to look for a granola bar that contains fiber and some protein (about 7 grams). If you’re not into granola bars, you could blend a smoothie. Throw together some yogurt, fresh or frozen fruit and fruit juice or milk in a food processor.

You should make sure you give your body something to get it running. “Even a glass of milk is a better breakfast than no breakfast,” Chapman says.

So make a point to get some food in your system before hiking up the Hill to class. Give your day a jump-start — pull a Rob Ralston and eat your breakfast!