BREAKFAST TIME

TEACHER NOTE: You may want to enlarge the numbered pictures found on the following page that correspond with this story.

Once upon a time, there were two darling children. Their names were Nutrio and Nutrietta. They were brother and sister and liked to play together. One of Nutrietta's favorite things to do was help her dad fix the food, she didn't like to eat it. Every morning she would get up early with her dad and begin to fix nutritious foods like pancakes with strawberries or eggs with cheese or cereal with slices of fresh banana and toast spread with peanut butter. When they got the breakfast ready, Nutrietta would call Nutrio to come and eat. He was always happy and surprised to find a delicious breakfast waiting for him. He loved to eat the yummy food and drink cold juice and milk (#1). Then he would thank his sister and dad for the delicious breakfast, brush his teeth and run off to school. The good breakfast helped him study in school and gave him energy to play games at recess (#2). BUT, as Nutrietta was fixing breakfast, she was being sneaky. When her had looked the other way, she would grab a handful of chocolate chips, cookies, potato chips, and candy and eat it. when it was time for breakfast, she was full of nutrient poor foods, but did not tell her had why she was full. Instead, she offered to do the dishes. When the dishes were finished, she grabbed her backpack and raced off for school. But when she got to the end of the block, she was tired and decided to walk the rest of the way (#3). As her teacher began reading a story, Nutrietta laid her head down on her desk to listen, but guess what she did? She went to sleep! This did not make her teacher happy and Nutrietta felt silly when she woke up. At recess, Nutrietta had a headache and just sat on the steps and watched the other children play. After recess her class went to the gymnasium to play kickball. Nutrietta was so tired she got out every time it was her turn. By lunch time, Nutrietta was not feeling very well (#4). When Nutrio came to pick her up to go to lunch he was still full of energy and wanted to have a race to the lunch room. Nutrietta was mad and told him to get lost (#5). Nutrio didn't know what was wrong (#6). What do you think was wrong? You're right! Nutrietta didn't eat a healthy breakfast and her body was out of energy and she felt grumpy. That afternoon in class, Mr. Goodhealth told Nutrietta's class how important breakfast was. He explained how our bodies need healthy food to wake them up and get them going after a long night without food. He explained that our brains do not work very well when our bodies do not eat the right foods. Now Nutrietta understood why she didn't feel very well every morning (#7). The next day when she fixed breakfast with her dad, she didn't sneak any not-so-healthy food (#8). She cooked a nutritious breakfast, then called Nutrio and they all ate together. Nutrio and Nutrietta told their dad good-by, brushed their teeth, and raced off to school for a fun, healthy day with plenty of energy to run and play (#9).