Any disease with nutritional signs is usually related to some other illness such as infection, trauma from an accident, or cancer. Recently the Expert Panel on Blood Cholesterol Levels in Children and Adolescents examined data regarding dietary intake, blood cholesterol levels, and indicators of atherosclerosis. Food intake data show that both fat intake and saturated fat intake exceed recommended levels. This expert panel, along with other scientific groups, has recommended that all healthy children over the age of 2 years should follow a diet low in total fat and saturated fat. There is also concern that skipping breakfast as a child may set a pattern for adulthood.
Some studies show that children function better in school when they have eaten breakfast.
Other foods are equally important for a breakfast meal. Non-traditional breakfast foods can be as beneficial as the more standard foods. There are other concerns related to food and our children, such as the use of vitamin supplements, vegetarian diets, and hyperactivity. If your child is generally healthy and gets a variety of foods from all the food groups, there is probably no need for a vitamin or mineral supplement. In fact, they may expose your child to excessive amounts of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals.