July 17/Park Ridge, Ill./Press Release -- It is essential to provide children with a nutritious breakfast that will stick with them when they ease into the back-to-school routine. Studies show that eating breakfast before school has continuously shown positive effects in children, including higher test scores and attendance. But what is the best option? According to a recent survey conducted by the American Egg Board (AEB), the vast majority of parents (82%) agree that eggs are a more nutritious breakfast than cereal.

A recent study conducted at the University of Missouri found that teenagers who consumed breakfast meals that included protein-rich eggs and beef (35g of protein) reported greater feelings of fullness compared to those who ate a cereal-based breakfast (13g of protein). The egg breakfast also led to significant improvements in daily hunger and satiety hormone levels, reduced food cravings prior to dinner and resulted in eating less high-fat evening snacks.

Additionally, a study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that egg-eaters consumed an average of 330 fewer calories throughout the day than bagel eaters.

“When parents ask me what’s an ideal breakfast for their kids, I recommend pairing protein-rich eggs with whole grains, fruits and vegetables,” says Serena Ball, MS, RD, and mother of four young kids. “Protein is an important component of a healthy diet and eggs are higher in protein than most cereals or many other breakfast foods, so you can feel good about feeding eggs to your kids in a variety of delicious ways.”

Eggs have 6g of protein and provide a good source of vitamin D, along with calcium, for helping to grow strong bones. On big days such as the first day of school, tests or athletic events, 71% of parents feed their kids an egg breakfast.