Eating breakfast improves a child’s behaviour in school and maintaining healthy eating patterns assists adolescent growth and development, according to Claire Drummond – Associate Professor Social Health Sciences at Flinders University.“A good quality breakfast helps provide young people with the energy they need for the day, and the nutrients they need to develop,†she said in the Conversation.

Shannon Lavery, Accredited Practising Dietitian at Diabetes NSW agreed and added eating regular meals, including breakfast, helps maintain energy levels and stabilise blood glucose levels.

“Eating breakfast and having a well balanced diet based on the five food groups is vital to your health – at any age – because it’s these habits surrounding nutrition that encourage a healthy lifestyle and may assist with reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes later in life,†Ms Lavery said.

Research has also shown that people who eat breakfast regularly tend to have improve ability to concentrate and process information throughout the day, as well as a higher intake of important nutrients required for good health.

“Diabetes NSW has a year-long campaign, Diabetes and a Healthy Mind, where we have been consistently promoting the importance of mental wellbeing where ever we can and mental health is something people living with diabetes need to be conscious of. It does go hand-in-hand with nutrition because if you eat well, you feel well,†Ms Lavery said.

World Diabetes Day is on 14 November and this year’s theme centres around having a healthy breakfast each day. Diabetes NSW Ambassador, Yvonne Appleby, is one of many people living with diabetes who says she enjoys her breakfast each morning.
“Type 2 diabetes represents up to 85 – 90% of all cases of diabetes, and in 58% of cases it can be prevented or delayed by diet and exercise. While my diabetes can’t be prevented, it can be managed using the same methods – I eat a healthy breakfast each day and I try to walk for at least 30 minutes a day in the hope I can avoid the complications associated with diabetes,†Ms Appleby said.

Ms Appleby is joining the Walk to Work campaign with Diabetes Australia and the Pedestrian Council across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Friday morning.

“I am determined to help raise awareness of diabetes and the Walk to Work campaign is a perfect way to draw attention to the fact that diabetes is the fastest growing chronic disease in Australia today. Plus, walking is a great form of exercise and staying fit and healthy is a critical part of managing diabetes,†Ms Appleby said.

For some delicious breakfast recipes, go to the Diabetes NSW recipe page click here