Credit to Drew Johnson and Chase Pray

Let’s be honest. Who actually eats breakfast before school? You wake up at the crack of dawn after getting a maximum of six hours of sleep, you throw some clothes on, wash your face if you are feeling really fancy, and by the time you feel remotely ready to set foot in school, you’ve already brushed your teeth and there is not nearly enough time to wash out the toothpaste taste in order to not throw up your orange juice. Every adult around will tell you just how oh so important breakfast is but… how important is it really? The answer is not at all, maybe it’s important for those who have the privilege of leaving their house after 6 a.m. But for the average high school student, it’s less important than getting ready and enacting proper hygiene for the day ahead.

Breakfast is important. Although this completely contradicts the previous statement that every meal of the day is important. However, the breakfast you are most likely eating isn’t important. A small pastry or granola bar isn’t nutritious in any way, unless you are eating a hearty and balanced breakfast, it’s a worse start to your day than no breakfast at all.

Students could, in theory, wake up earlier allowing them to have more time towards breakfast. But when faced with the whirlwind of homework, extracurricular activities, friendships, relationships and family time, getting to bed early can be quite a difficult task. Not everyone has the chance to eat a healthy breakfast every morning, especially if they are leaving at 6:30 for a day at school.

It’s important to recognize that eating a healthy and nourishing breakfast is not just about caloric intake but about cultivating a habit of self-care. In the end, the importance of breakfast really boils down to personal choices and circumstances. For some the morning is a hectic race against the clock, making it hard to prioritize a substantial breakfast. Making breakfast the last to-do on the list.