The countdown to school has begun. With the first day just around the corner, it's time to think about what you can do to help your child start off the new school year with a bang. Of course there will be plenty of shopping for school supplies and the hottest new clothes, but here's something else to consider - new eating habits.

September is National Breakfast Month, and it is fitting to pair this with the beginning of school. So many students head off to school with no food to fuel them through the day, and numerous studies have proven that this is a very poor decision.

Students who eat a nutritious breakfast which includes milk, fruit, bread, and meat learn more and do better in school. It has been proven that kids who eat their morning meal score higher on tests, have better attendance, and concentrate better than those who skip the food. This is because the nutritionally fit students are more likely to have the energy, stamina and self-esteem to enhance their learning.

A breakfast, which contains dairy products, is certainly filled with nutrition, and it is a good start toward meeting your calcium quota for the day. By starting off with dairy, you've already knocked off one out of the three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt that should be consumed every day.

Many people need “grab-and-go” food on schooldays, so here are some quick and easy ways to achieve a balanced, dairy filled breakfast:

€ Layer vanilla or lemon yogurt with cereal and sliced fruit

€ Top a toasted frozen whole-grain waffle with ricotta cheese and fruit spread or preserves

€ To “flavor the grains” serve unsweetened cereal with strawberry, chocolate or vanilla flavored milk

€ Try a pancake sandwich with one cup of fruit yogurt and berries

€ Melt one or two slices of reduced fat Swiss cheese over lean ham and an English muffin

If you have more time in the morning, check out the following delicious dairy breakfast recipes. Consider making them the night before to save time.

Molly O'Hara is the Cayuga County Dairy Princess.

Banana-Walnut Oatmeal

Makes 2 servings

1 cup of fat-free or 1 percent lowfat milk

Pinch of salt

3/4 cup water

1 cup quick oats

1 very ripe banana, mashed

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 tablespoon chopped walnuts

In a small saucepan, combine milk, salt and water. Heat over medium heat until steaming hot, but not boiling. Add oats and cook, stirring until creamy, for one to two minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in mashed banana

and maple syrup. Garnish with walnuts and a dash of more syrup.

Cheddar-Apple Granola Bars

Makes 24 bars

2 cups of flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/ 2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup applesauce

2 eggs

1/4 cup apple juice concentrate, thawed

1/4 cup canola oil

2 1/2 cups low fat granola

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, baking powder

and salt; set aside. Combine applesauce, eggs, apple juice concentrate and oil. Blend with a whisk. Stir in flour

mixture, 2 cups of granola, and 1 1/2 cups of cheese.

Spread into a lightly greased 13-by-9-inch baking pan.

Top bars with remaining cheese and granola. Bake 20-24 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let stand at

least 10 minutes and cut into bars.