Backing breakfast
By CHRISTINA YOON Special to the Daily Press
THIRD STREET PROMENADE On some mornings, hitting the snooze button one more time can seem like the most important thing in the world.
Nutritionists and health experts agree, however, that those extra 10 minutes are much better spent eating a quick and nutritious breakfast to help maintain weight, fight off diabetes and help keep the heart healthy.
“If you’re not eating breakfast you’re keeping your metabolism sluggish,” said Susan Dopart, a registered dietitian and exercise physiologist based in Santa Monica.
While Dopart creates customized eating schedules for her clients, she said that it’s not difficult for anyone to improve their overall health with breakfast, as long as they know which foods to choose.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is that eating a big bowl of cereal can have as many carbohydrates as six, seven, eight slices of bread and it raises your blood sugar,” she said. “When you eat more protein, you don’t get so much of an insulin response, which makes your hunger more even.”
She suggests breakfasts of eggs, cottage cheese with fruit or plain yogurt with fruit and nuts.
Dopart said that kids with packed school schedules are even more likely to skip breakfast.
“They have to leave at 7:10 [a.m.] and they’re getting up at 7:00 and dashing off to school,” she said.
This week, the California Milk Processor Board began an initiative on their GOT MILK? Web site, gotmilk.com, to provide quick and easy breakfast recipes targeted to kids. The idea is to provide fun ideas like smoothies or portable granola treats that can be prepared in three minutes or less.
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District provides breakfast to students in all of its middle and high schools and four elementary schools.
Orlando Griego, the director of food services for the district, said that low participation rates and cost issues prevented the district from offering breakfast at more elementary schools.
“Getting up isn’t the easiest thing,” he said. “Breakfast isn’t the most popular program here.”
Still, students who can manage to get to their cafeteria on time have their choice of cereals, fresh fruit, milk and a hot item such as a cheese quesadilla or a breakfast pizza bagel. The meals are available in elementary schools at the full price of $1.25, and kids who qualify for reduced priced meals get breakfast for 30 cents.
The Daily Press asked people of all ages on the streets of Santa Monica what they had for breakfast today and how important the most important meal of the day really is to them: I DIDN'T HAVE ANY BREAK- FAST TODAY, BUT I USUAL- LY HAVE SOME FRUIT. I CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE WHEN I DO OR DON'T EAT BREAKFAST. I PROBABLY SHOULD BE ABLE TO, BUT I CAN'T."
Paul nowottny 54, scotland I woke up at 11 today, so I had lunch for breakfast, which was penne arrabbiata. I normally don't eat breakfast, I just have a coffee from starbucks."
Jacquelyn Thropay 25, of Los Angeles I HAD SCRAMBLED EGGS AND A CLIFF BAR TODAY. AND YES, I DO EAT BREAKFAST EVERY DAY."
Andrea Sorensen 23, Westwood TODAY I HAD AN EGG SALAD SANDWICH AND A FRAPPUCINO. BUT USUALLY I HAVE SOME CEREAL AND A GLASS OF O.J.
My favorite cereal is cinnamon toast crunch, but I'm usually allowed to eat cheerios. Sometimes I'll skip breakfast if I'm running late for school."
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 20, 2008. Read the original PDF.