Project EMBRACE: Embracing Morning BReakfast and Activity for Classroom Engagement
University of Illinois at Chicago
Summary
This experiment will test the effects of healthy breakfast and morning exercise on children's focus and classroom behavior. Food and exercise each influence child focus, but little is known about their effects on classroom behavior and less about their combined effects. For one week (Monday-Friday), 10 children will be randomly assigned to receive healthy breakfast and morning exercise, 10 assigned to only healthy breakfast, 10 to only exercise, and 10 to neither. After exercise and breakfast, study staff will assess how focused children are during class-time, ask them to complete puzzle-like tasks, and wear a helmet that measures brain blood flow
Description
Specific Aims: Specific Aim 1: Determine the independent and convergent effects of breakfast and exercise on child classroom behavior using systematic classroom observations. Hypothesis 1: Groups assigned to receive protein-rich breakfast (1 \& 3) will demonstrate greater engagement and reduced off-task behavior compared with those receiving high carb breakfast (groups 2 \& 4) (the main effect of high-protein breakfast). Groups receiving morning exercise (2 \& 3) will demonstrate great engagement and reduced off-task behavior compared with groups not receiving exercise (1 \& 4) (main effect…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 6–11 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * 6-11 years old * Enrolled at the participating school Exclusion Criteria: * Younger than 5 years old * Older than 12 years old * Not enrolled in a participating school * Allergic to dairy or gluten
Interventions
- BehavioralHigh Protein Breakfast
For 5 days children will receive a high protein breakfast comprised of baked items (i.e. waffles with syrup) and Greek yogurt. The high protein meal will aim for 40% protein, 40% carbohydrates, and 20% fat. Meals will be served with a cup of water.
- BehavioralMorning Exercise
Exercise Intervention. For 5 days, a 30-min physical activity bout including a 5-minute warm up and cool down will be provided to participants in this group. The aim is for students to achieve an average heart rate above 150 for the session, not including warm up or cool down. To monitor intensity, the participant will wear heart rate monitors around their chest and waist-worn accelerometers.
- BehavioralHigh Carb Breakfast
For 5 days children will receive a high carb breakfast that will be comprised of 15% protein, 65% carbohydrates and 20% fat. Total energy content, fat, sugar, fiber, energy density, are similar between the breakfast meals.
Location
- Altus AcademyChicago, Illinois