Nearly one in four children goes to school on an empty stomach

Two of the main reasons for missing breakfast are kids saying they’re not hungry or they don’t like what is on offer.

The key findings of research carried out online by Tickbox.net from a nationally representative sample of 1,149 parents of five to 11 year olds include:

• 23 per cent of children miss breakfast at least once a week;
• 62 per cent of parents have noticed a negative impact on their kids after missing breakfast: 13 per cent felt their child was lethargic and lacking in energy; 23 per cent cited irritability; 8 per cent believed their child’s performance at school had suffered;
• 60 per cent of parents recognise that their children’s breakfast time habits could influence their long-term dietary habits.
  

These findings are backed up the 2007 Nutella Breakfast Time Report, by nutritionist Azmina Govindji. This looks at the breakfast habits of children and the impact that not having a nutritionally balanced breakfast is having on their short and long-term health.

The findings include:

• Children who eat a balanced breakfast have superior nutritional profiles over their breakfast-skipping peers.
• Low glycaemic index (GI) breakfasts (because they release energy slowly) have been shown to reduce the desire for higher energy (higher calorie) foods at lunch than children who had a high GI breakfast.
• If breakfast is skipped, high fat and high sugar snack foods are more likely to be eaten later in the day which cause a sugar high followed by an energy lull.
• There is evidence that children who skip breakfast buy crisps, sweets and sweetened drinks on the way to school.
  

The makers of Nutella, the hazelnut based spread, commissioned the report to understand the importance of a balanced breakfast, the key components that make up an ideal balanced breakfast - and the role Nutella can play as part of a good balanced breakfast.

Azmina Govindji comments: ”The habit of eating breakfast is one for life and it is never more important than when you are a child, for growth and development.

“The recommended portion size of Nutella (15g) on toast, preferably wholegrain, provides a good low GI component of a balanced breakfast, alongside low or no sugar cereal with milk and pure fruit juice. Low GI breakfasts have been shown to reduce the desire for higher energy (higher calories) foods at lunch.”

PWT breakfast-time tips:

•  Make time for breakfast – get the children to lay the table the night before if your family is always in a rush.
• Set the alarm clock a bit earlier if necessary.
• Avoid cereals with high sugar and salt content.
• Don’t add sugar to cereals or fruit.
• Adding a piece of fruit – on its own or to eat with cereal – means that with the glass of fruit juice a child has had  two of their minimum five fruit and vegetables a day.
  
• Offer a choice, eggs one day, cereal the next etc.