How do you start a typical school day? If you’re like most kids, you probably try to squeeze an extra 40 winks of sleep in after your parents tell you it’s time to get up. Once you’re up, though, it’s off to the races as you hurry to get showered, dressed and ready for the bus.
But what about something to eat? Do you wolf down a quick bowl of cereal? Heat up a hot bowl of oatmeal? Pop a couple of pastries into the toaster? Or do you sit down to a hot meal of pancakes, eggs and bacon?
That first meal of the day is more commonly known as breakfast. If you divide this compound word into two parts, you’ll see it’s made up of “break” and “fast.” To fast means to go without food. So “breakfast” means to break the fast you’ve been observing since you went to sleep the night before!
You’ve probably heard parents and teachers say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But is that true? And why would it be?
Doctors and nutrition experts generally agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you think about it, it just makes sense. After a long night of sleeping, your fuel tank is on empty. Like a car won’t run without gas, your body won’t function right without its fuel: food!
So what type of fuel should you use to get your body going in the morning? While it’s true that eating anything is better than going without any food at all, it’s a good idea to fuel your body with healthy foods to start the day.
For example, donuts and pastries are probably not the best breakfast foods to make a part of your regular morning routine. They’re certainly tasty, but they also tend to be high in sugars, fats and calories.
The best way to start your day is with a well-balanced breakfast that gives your body the nutrients it needs. Eating a wide variety of foods can help you achieve this balance.
A good breakfast throughout the week will include all sorts of different foods, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy products. Some common breakfast foods that you might consider are whole-grain cereals, toast, pancakes, waffles, bacon, eggs, milk, yogurt, oatmeal and fruits, like blueberries and strawberries.
Even if you’re in a hurry, it’s best not to skip breakfast. Skipping breakfast leaves you feeling tired and very hungry later. This often leads to overeating throughout the rest of the day, which can be unhealthy. Instead of skipping breakfast, grab something quick on the run, such as yogurt, a muffin or a piece of fresh fruit.
(8 votes, avg. 3.50 out of 5) 
Loading ...
It’s the first meal of the day. Your first break to eat and get you going for the day.
My grandma and I think it’s how many days until Christmas or addition.
Great work WONDERing, Kamron! We Wonder if you have a favorite breakfast dish? Thanks for sharing your SUPER guess for tomorrow’s Wonder… it’s going to be a ton of fun!
Because…………. I don’t know
We bet you’ll have a SUPER time learning about breakfast with our Wonder today, Sarah! We hope you’ll check out the cool video, too!
I love breakfast and I didn’t know it was healthy.
YUM, we’re so glad that your give breakfast a thumbs-up, Junior! We think it’s one of the best ways to start your day!
I LOOOOVE BREAKFAST!!!
My favorite is cereal. And waffles!!! YUM!!! Thanks!
=Bryleigh=
Yippee, our Wonder Friend Bryleigh is here today! We think breakfast at your house sounds delicious! Thanks for WONDERing with us today!
I really like the video because the guy paints his breakfast. It is really cool. My favorite breakfast is pancakes and eggs with OJ, or a big bowl of cereal. Thanks!!
=Berkleigh=
Hello there, Berkleigh! We’re all smiles today as we Wonder with you about that tasty meal: breakfast! We are getting hungry just thinking about eggs and a glass of orange juice– YUM! Thanks for joining the WONDERful fun today!
I have 2 different breakfasts, 1 on Mondays-Fridays, the 2nd is Saturdays-Sundays. First breakfast is like a snack you eat on your breaks with orange juice, but it’s my breakfast and I like it. The second breakfast has pancakes, scrambled eggs, cheese, and chocolate milk.
Hey there, Wonder Friend Carlos! We are thrilled that you shared your two awesome breakfast menus with us! We know that sometimes we’re in a hurry in the morning, so it’s very important that you are getting a good breakfast in the morning, like your orange juice and snack. Nice work! We wish we could visit your house for breakfast one morning– it would be lots of fun! Thanks for sharing!
I love, love, love eating breakfast.
If I go at least one day without eating breakfast its like there’s an empty hole inside my stomach. I just love having breakfast on Sundays and Saturdays because my mom cooks scrambled eggs, sausage, and sometimes pancakes or waffles mostly waffles.
– Sincerely, Danielle
YUM, Danielle! You’re making us hungry with that delicious menu of breakfast items! We think your house must smell delicious when you wake up to a breakfast like that! Thanks for joining us as we Wonder today– we’re so glad you are here!
Sometimes I have breakfast for dinner.
We think that’s a fun way to switch it up, Bianca! It’s a meal so nice that it’s fun to enjoy it for dinner once in a while!
I love breakfast if I do not eat it I will be very tired. It is my life having brngakfast and thank you for having this website. It is fantastic, the wonders and everything, I love wonderopolis it is awesome.
YUM, Wonder Friend awesomeness! We think you’re right– it’s important to start your day out right with a healthy breakfast! We are so happy that you enjoy visiting Wonderopolis– we’re glad you’re here! Thanks for being a super WONDERer!
Hey this is really cool but I have a question. Does wonderopolis reply to everything everyone posts?
Thanks for sharing your comment, Monnie! We’re glad that our breakfast Wonder made you smile!
We respect and appreciate all our Wonder Friends here at Wonderopolis and we are happy to respond to all comments! We want to provide a safe, kind and welcoming environment for all our Wonder Friends to enjoy and Wonder!
Is it bad that I don’t eat breakfast? I never eat breakfast. It’s not that I don’t have time or anything, it’s just I just don’t think to eat.
Hi there, Gina M.! We know that everyone’s bodies have certain ways of working– for some, breakfast is a necessity, for others, it might not be a big deal. Generally, doctors recommend starting the day off with breakfast– it can help you get through the day by providing your body with enough calories, or energy. However, we Wonder if you and a parent can plan out certain breakfast items that you might enjoy and you can try starting your day out with a small breakfast!
My kiddies think breakfast means “break feast”—a morning party in which you eat a big meal or feast.
We think your kids are on to something, Carmen D! We think that breakfast is a WONDERful time to celebrate a new day!
Thanks for sharing your comment with us– we can hardly wait to feast tomorrow morning! We’ll be thinking of our clever Wonder Friends! 
The way you described breakfast was awesome! I never knew you could say it like that!?
YUM, we’re glad you agree, Austyn! Thanks for sharing your comment with us– we’re so happy you’ve learned something new!
B.R.E.A.K.F.A.S.T. B is for breakfast! R is for breakfast! E is for breakfast! A is for breakfast! K is for breakfast! F is for breakfast! A is for breakfast! S is for breakfast! And T is for… BELLYBUTTON!!!!!! I think breakfast rocks! Just like-pigs!!
P.S. This is from PigPunk
We really like your breakfast cheer! Nice work, PigPunk! We’re so excited that you shared your enthusiasm with us! Keep up the great work!
EVERYWHERE WE GOOO! PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW! WHO WE ARRRRRRE! SO WE TELL THEM! WE ARE BREAKFAST EATERS!!!!!! WE ARE BREKFAST EATERS!!! WE LOVE BREAKFAAAASSSSSTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!! IT’S GREEEEAAAATTTT!!!!!!!! By the way, I LOVE breakfast! Just as an FYI. Sing it with me again!
EVERYWHERE WE GOOO! PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW! WHO WE ARRRRRRRE! SO WE TELL THEM! WE ARE BREAKFAST EARTERS!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!
WOW, we are very impressed by your enthusiasm for breakfast, Supercalifragilisticexpealidotiously Amazing Cool Dude!
Thanks so much for sharing your cool song/chant/cheer for breakfast– we think it’s fun to get our energy from a great, healthy meal early in the day!
I really like this story, it answers a lot of my questions!
Great, that’s WONDERful Karime! We are glad you’re here WONDERing with us today! HOORAY!
We enjoyed the video of Danny Gregory and his breakfast art.
We agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
The bagels looked yummy and delicious. It made us hungry!
Alright, we’re excited our Wonder Friends in Mrs. Ehle’s Class are starting the day off right– with Wonderopolis and breakfast!
We hope you all learned something new about our favorite meal of the day… our stomachs were rumbling after WONDERing about breakfast, too!
Easy. They call it that because it’s a fast break.
We Wonder what your favorite type of breakfast food is, Tyler J?
<3 it!
Hey there, Erika! We’re glad you enjoyed our delicious Wonder!
I love breakfast
. I also loved the video. I never thought breakfast was so important. I probably should have woken up early today. I only had six minutes to eat. But most of the time, I always eat breakfast!!!
YUM, breakfast is the BEST, Kathy! We are so glad you reminded us of the importance of a healthy, balanced breakfast! What a great way to start the day!
This is really cool I really didn’t know that breakfast meant to break the fast (fast means to not eat food for some time). It is really important to eat heathy foods. Your day will be slow and you may over eat food for the rest of the day. Sometimes I eat unhealthy foods for breakfast now I know not to.
How awesome that you have learned something new today, Charity! We LOVE breakfast– it’s a super way to start the day! Good thing you’re providing your body with the nutrients it needs to keep you going!
That was a really cool video. I loved it. It was awesome. I know eating breakfast is really healthy for you. Sometimes I eat different food, like Vietnamese food. I never skipped breakfast. I thought that video was fascinating. I always eat breakfast.
Yum, we think it’s cool that you switch it up with different types of food, Briitney! Thanks for sharing your comment about breakfast with us, Wonder Friend!
I like breakfast, but sometimes when I wake up I don’t feel like doing anything but I always have breakfast.
That’s understandable, Emily C! Some of our Wonder Friends need a bit more time to get ready in the morning… but it’s important to start the day off right! When your stomach tells you it’s hungry, then you’ll know you’re ready for some breakfast!
WONDERful! Sometimes I’m in a rush to school, so I never get anything or enough to eat, what should I do? And of most the time I feel like I’m starving, so I eat and eat and eat but I never get full… what’s goin on?
We hope you will find some time to eat a healthy breakfast, Beka! Your body deserves the best! Perhaps you can lay your clothes out the night before (to save time in the morning), or you can pack a breakfast to eat while you travel to school!?
Hi. That was a good movie. Why do they call it breakfast?
WOHOO, our Wonder Friend Mike is here today! We Wonder if you have ever heard of “a fast”– when you don’t eat for a certain period of time? When you break that fast, it’s called “breakfast”– the first meal of the day! You can read all about breakfast in our Wonder!
The video was really cool A.G!!! I do think breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You should eat healthy food to start the day right.
I never knew that breakfast meant to break the fast.
How cool, Arelys! We are so excited that you reminded us to eat a healthy meal in the morning- it’s the best way to start the day! Hooray for Wonder Friends like you!
I especially like pancakes with BACON!!!! I also like bagels with cream cheese, they’re really good. When I think of it, breakfast is kind of different from lunch and dinner. When you eat breakfast there is a lot more sugar and grains than lunch and dinner.
YUM, Timmy N! Our stomachs are starting to growl here at Wonderopolis now! We’ve got a Wonder you’re REALLY going to enjoy: Wonder #696– How Do You Bring Home the Bacon? http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-do-you-bring-home-the-bacon/
You can eat certain foods for breakfast, like eggs, fruit and even vegetables, to avoid all those sugary breakfast options. Grains are great, but in moderation! We Wonder what your favorite meal of the day is?
Oops I know the answer to my question. I love breakfast.
Cool, Mike! We’re glad that you checked out our Wonder and learned something new today! Way to go!
I do like breakfast. But I skip it a lot because I am late for school. But I love it. Anyway why is it the most important time of the day? I love wonderopolis it is a great website. I might come back to this website.
Oh no, Breanna M! We sure hope you eat breakfast– even if it’s on the go– each and every day! We burn calories, even as we sleep, so eating food with calories and nutrients in the morning is the best way to start your day!
Breakfast is good for you it keeps you balanced, awake, and gives you energy that helps you to do anything in the like play, run races, and makes you not tired. I liked that video, it taught me new things now I know breakfast is important.
Why do they call it breakfast?
Hey there, Matthew! You have done a great job of sharing the benefits of breakfast! We’re so glad you are WONDERing with us today! The word actually means to “break” a “fast”– or a time when you refrain from eating. While you sleep, you’re fasting. Once you’re up and eating breakfast, you’ve broken that fast!
Playing and other things can keep your mind off food and playing can sometimes make you hungry. Answer back anytime. I loved the video it made me hungry. Sometimes I eat bacon and I put it on my biscuit.
Great point, Breanna M! We think that breakfast is a great way to start the day and give you energy for all the fun things you will do! Thanks for sharing your favorite breakfast treat, too! Bacon sounds yummy!
sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I loved your video it was good.
Well thanks so much, Breanna!
It made me hungry.
Yum, we’re getting hungry too! We are off to eat lunch now… have a WONDERful day!
I LOVE breakfast but never have enough time but now I’ll try to fit some breakfast in before school.
Do we have to eat breakfast every day?
I think breakfast is important because you will have enough energy to get through the day and what was the video about.
I liked that video! The man did a lot of work. Is he a an artist? I’m going to check in a lot! I like this website! How many paintings has he done? Do you know him in person? What is name? I like breakfast, but my mom says I can’t have certain things. When my big brothers where little, they had ice cream for breakfast! But you can’t eat breafast stuff later. Also you can’t eat breakfast stuff in the afternoon. Speaking of breakfast it geting me hungry! BYE!!!!!!!!
Thanks… I walk, and I’ll try that !!!!
Awesome, Beka! It will be a breakfast on the go!
I didn’t know that breakfast meant to break the fast that you’ve been observing since you went to sleep the night before. And you can see what it means in the name breakfast.
Isn’t it interesting to learn about the origin of a word we use so often, Emmy? We’re glad that you learned something new about the meaning of breakfast. We hope you had some delicious breakfast this morning!
I like to eat big bowls of ham cheese with pancakes and waffles all bunched up together and I call JAYS DELIGHT.
Thanks for sharing your very own breakfast creation! We Wonder if you plan to be a chef in the future?