Half a million children enjoy a healthy breakfast during National School Breakfast Week

Research into children’s breakfast habits was conducted in the run-up to this week; it showed that 96% of children do eat breakfast on weekdays, but 43% do not pay attention to what they are eating because they are distracted by the television, iPad or smartphone. The National School Breakfast Foundation is working with 2,250 schools during National School Breakfast Week to highlight the importance of a healthy breakfast for children.

What you eat, but also where you eat, is important for a good start to the day

According to parents, there is no doubt that a substantial breakfast is an important part of the day. But how we eat breakfast is almost as important as eating breakfast itself. The work-life balance has changed completely as a result of the pandemic. Parents are at home more often, and as a result, 4 in 10 (39%) families have breakfast together more frequently. This is shown by the Breakfast Monitor of the National School Breakfast Foundation. The research also shows that most children have more than an hour between waking up and leaving for school. On average, 19 minutes of that hour are spent having breakfast. There are many distractions during breakfast: 18% of children eat breakfast on the sofa, 90% of whom use a TV, tablet or smartphone at the same time.

“It is good to take time for breakfast, but eating mindfully is also important. This helps you notice better when you have eaten enough. Too many distractions, such as the TV, can make it easier to eat too much. Eating a healthy breakfast often leaves you feeling full for longer,” says nutrition and health expert Linda van Zonsbeek.

Lots of bread, hardly any vegetables or fruit

More than 70% of children never eat fruit at breakfast. Vegetables are not popular either: 84% of children never eat vegetables at breakfast. A good start to the day is a breakfast offering plenty of choices from the Wheel of Five. Bread is by far the most commonly eaten food by children on weekdays (77%). However, the Breakfast Monitor shows that a dairy-based breakfast, such as yoghurt, is also becoming increasingly popular in the morning. More than 50% of children choose dairy products.