Breakfast skipping means children may not be getting all the nutrients they need, warns new report
A new scientific review published today by the British Nutrition Foundation, in partnership with the charity, Magic Breakfast, highlights that many schoolchildren are skipping breakfast, making it harder to get the nutrients they need for healthy development and learning. Teenagers, especially girls, and children from households on lower incomes are particularly at risk.
The review looked at the contribution of breakfast to nutrient intakes and diet quality in school-aged children aged 4-18 years. It also considered the effect of breakfast consumption on obesity and other markers of health as well as cognitive function, behaviour, and educational performance, with a focus on low socio-economic status households.
The authors found that continuously missing out on a nutritious breakfast can make it harder for children and young people to get enough of the nutrients they need for good physical and mental health and learning. This includes nutrients of concern for growth and development such as calcium and iron. Children and young people from lower socio-economic groups are less likely to meet dietary recommendations and nutritional targets. They are also more likely to have nutritional deficiencies such as iron deficiency anaemia and be living with obesity, compared to those from higher income households.
The evidence suggests that healthier breakfasts, can help children and young people to maintain a healthy body weight and can have a positive impact on school-related outcomes. Encouraging breakfasts that contain essential nutrients, are high in fibre and low in saturated fat, free sugars and salt, particularly in adolescence when lifestyle patterns are developing, may help contribute to well-being, both in the short and longer term.
Free school breakfast provision could help address health and educational inequalities for the most vulnerable children and young people by helping to reduce hunger and potentially providing a nutritional safety net in the context of a whole school approach.
Arriving at school hungry affects children’s ability to learn and process information. All children have the right to healthy food – tackling hunger and helping children get the nutrition they need should be a part of a whole school approach to enable all children to realise their potential.
Sara Stanner, Science Director, British Nutrition Foundation
Dr Lindsey MacDonald, CEO of Magic Breakfast said: “The immediate benefit of school breakfasts is children are better prepared to learn, and focus on their education rather than being undermined and distracted by their empty tummies. This year, our annual survey revealed Magic Breakfast is a key contributor to learning, with 87% of our partner schools saying Magic Breakfast has a positive impact on educational attainment, whilst our What's For Breakfast research, revealed that 85% of parents felt eating breakfast has a positive impact on their child’s attainment. We need to ensure that all children can access a healthy breakfast and maximise their potential."
The review was supported by Magic Breakfast as part of a wider programme of deliverables on heathier breakfasts, which has, through Magic Breakfast, been kindly supported by Arla, Kraft Heinz and Quaker. The views expressed in the review are those of the authors alone.
About the British Nutrition Foundation
Connecting people, food and science for better nutrition and healthier lives
The British Nutrition Foundation is a registered charity that provides impartial, evidence-based information about food and nutrition. We translate nutrition science in engaging and actionable ways, working extensively with people in academia, health care, education, communications and the food system, for public benefit.
We safeguard our independence through robust governance, with an independent Board supported by an Advisory Committee and a Scientific Committee, both of which draw upon a board range of experts from academia, government, industry, and public life. Our governance is weighted towards the scientific community, universities, and research institutes, and those from education, finance, media, communications, and HR backgrounds.
Funding for the British Nutrition Foundation is from membership subscriptions; donations; project grants from food producers and manufacturers, retailers and food service companies; conferences; publications, training, trusts, and foundations. The British Nutrition Foundation is not a lobbying organisation, nor does it endorse any products or engage in food advertising campaigns.
More details about the British Nutrition Foundation’s work, funding and governance can be found here.
About Magic Breakfast
Magic Breakfast is a registered charity providing healthy breakfasts to children and young people in the UK who arrive at school too hungry to learn, and expert support to their schools. Over 200,000 children and young people are on roll at Primary, Secondary, ASL / Special Educational Needs Schools and Pupil Referral Units that the charity works with, in disadvantaged areas of Scotland and England. Providing breakfast ensures that children start their school day with the energy and nutrition they need to be able to make the most of their morning lessons. Magic Breakfast also undertakes research, and campaigns for long-term solutions to end hunger as a barrier to learning.
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