Eat your way to a better day: Breakfast is brain-food for back-to-school kids. Adults, too.

CAN YOU believe it? Summer is gone and another school year is upon us! While many of us parents are scrambling to lock down new wardrobes, bus schedules and school supplies for our kids, there's one more thing we need to put on the table, literally: breakfast.

Breakfast not only helps kids (and adults) maintain a healthy weight, it also gives schoolchildren a cognitive boost, increasing concentration, memory, test scores and even attendance.

Countless studies have proved the importance of eating breakfast. Yet, sadly, most American adults and too many schoolchildren skip it.

A report released last week by the organization Share Our Strength - based on a survey of more than 1,000 teachers and principals from suburban, urban and rural schools nationally - showed that far too many children in the U.S. are going to school on an empty stomach.

More than 70 percent of K-8 teachers said that some of their students routinely come to school hungry. Those teachers reported spending an average of $37 out of pocket every month on food for their students.

How can we expect children to concentrate on reading, writing and arithmetic when they're distracted by hunger pangs?

Breakfast should consist of a variety of healthy foods - especially whole grains, low-fat dairy items and fruits. Those will provide the vital nutrients that all children need to grow both their bodies and their brains.

Parents who can afford it should do their best to provide a healthy breakfast for their children every day. At right are 10 healthful breakfasts that you can prepare in just five minutes apiece, including some old-school favorites and some new ideas for the new school year.

If money's tight and you qualify for the breakfast program at school, strongly encourage your child to take full advantage. Although 21 million kids in the U.S. are eligible to receive free or reduced-priced meals, only about 11 million actually do, according to a recent USDA report.

We don't want to leave any child behind, so let's start them all with a nutritious breakfast.