6 Mar, 2008

Teens Who Eat Breakfast Daily Eat Healthier Diets Than Those Who Skip Breakfast

University of Minnesota School of Public Health Project Eating Among Teens (EAT) researchers have found further evidence to support the importance of encouraging youth to eat breakfast regularly. Researchers examined the association between breakfast frequency and five-year body weight change in more than 2,200 adolescents, and the results indicate that daily breakfast eaters consumed a healthier diet and were more physically active than breakfast skippers during adolescence.

Five years later, the daily breakfast eaters also tended to gain less weight and have lower body mass index levels -- an indicator of obesity risk -- compared with those who had skipped breakfast as adolescents.

photo courtesy images.google.com & story sciencedaily.com, 3/4/08

Don't skip breakfast!

Are you getting enough nourishment?

John 4:27-34 (NLT)

27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”

32 But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”

33 “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.

34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.

What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about spiritual nourishment for our souls?

We don't know if Jesus ever skipped breakfast, but we do know that He chose to be spiritually healthy.

How did Jesus get His nourishment?

Don't misunderstand. Jesus was not only God on earth, but He was human - so He had to eat real food! The "food" that Jesus was talking about in this scripture was His spiritual nourishment. His strength came from obeying His Heavenly Father.

How do you get your spiritual nourishment?

If you're involved in a Bible-teaching church, studying God's Word and praying regularly, you are dining on the right kind of spiritual food. But real spiritual growth also comes from doing God's will and helping to build His Kingdom. You'll not only be nourished by what you take in, but also by what you give out for God.

You can't be spiritually healthy by skipping the daily nourishment that God wants you to enjoy. You may not always feel like "eating" and it might not taste "good" all the time, but eat up - it's good for you!

How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
  • Thank God for the nourishment He provides you through His Word, prayer, worship and through the body of Christ. Ask His Spirit to help you get healthy on God's menu rather than on the high-calorie fare that this world offers. Claim the Holy Spirit's power to obey God's will every day and praise Jesus that through this obedience you will receive God's nourishment and grow to be spiritually healthy.
  • For the next month, don't ever skip breakfast. Every time you eat, let God's Spirit remind you to receive spiritual nourishment from doing God's will that day.
  • Keep a written journal of what you are doing every day that results in taking in God's spiritual nourishment. Check it every week. At the end of a month, make any needed changes in your daily habits.

How can you connect today's story and God's Story scripture and your story to others?

  • With some friends who are Christ-followers, make an agreement to hold each other accountable for thirty days to never skip breakfast or "nourishment" time in the morning with God.
  • Start a breakfast club where you get together once a week (for six weeks) over breakfast to talk life. You don't even need a book or a "plan". Just hang out over breakfast with some friends who need Jesus. You will be amazed at how God connects the stories!
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The Daily Bide is brought to you by a team of writers from Youth for Christ/USA. The writers all have various years of experience in youth ministry but share a common bond in serving Jesus and discovering what it means to abide deeply everyday and to connect God's Story with those around them. A number of the Daily Bide writers have also written portions of our 3Story® resources. You can check out our resources at the 3Story.org website or connect with our writers at 3story@yfc.net. If you have a question or a story you would like to share, please reference the Daily Bide date in your email.

YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.