Rudolph Brown PhotoMost students who complain about being sleepy or sluggish during the day don't have an adequate breakfast, says Ardenne High School teacher and champion spelling bee and School Challenge Quiz coach, Rev. Glen Archer.
This translates to limited energy and poor attention to lessons which deprives the student of the first really productive morning hours.
Holding back on breakfast is a huge mistake because it lowers a child's performance level throughout the day, says Rev. Archer whose students habitually top the annual Gleaner Children's Own Spelling Bee contest and the School Challenge contest.
To stimulate a child's ability to learn, he suggests "a really heavy breakfast especially before 10:00 in the morning...(This) is an immediate plus because if you don't eat until after 12:00 the brain drains the body's energy. For students I would recommend getting a good cooked meal on reaching school if they are unable to have breakfast at home."
Hold firmly to the carbohydrates or stock foods, he advises. "Don't hold back on things like your dumplings, cornmeal and rice, these are what I call stock foods and they build tissue. Don't worry about getting fat because if the energy is used up properly then there will be no significant gain."
Protein in all its forms is also very important for growth, but if vegetables and fruits are included, try to have them fresh. Lastly, adds Rev. Archer, employ a regimen of balance. A routine of work with intermediate breaks and recreation is ideal to any learning plan. For parents the stress usually begins just around the GSAT or CXC period when the child refuses to eat and is constantly studying (or so he tells you). "Monitor the routine so that maximum value is achieved from every meal and at key periods in each day."
Glenda Anderson
