Research: seeing people eat breakfast makes you eat breakfast
72,000 children do not eat breakfast every day. With the vision “A healthy breakfast, every day and for every child”, the National School Breakfast is highlighting the importance of a healthy start to the day. This year, the Dutch breakfast culture of eating breakfast together is central. The Breakfast Monitor 2025, the biennial study into breakfast habits, shows that if you ate breakfast together with your parents as a child, you are likely to continue doing so yourself: a positive correlation was found between these two behaviours. Breakfast is also quality time: 86% of parents/carers say that they enjoy having breakfast together at the table. Yet this is not always possible: 33% of people in the Netherlands say they do not eat breakfast, or only do so occasionally, because there is not enough time. 77% of parents/carers with children living at home also regret it when they are unable to have breakfast together.
Launch at the Railway Museum & breakfast song by Jaap Reesema
On Monday, 10 November, breakfast week was ceremonially opened at the Railway Museum. Two classes had breakfast there together with their parents/carers and teachers. The children were welcomed by ‘momfluencer’ Ivana Nas. Especially for breakfast week, ambassador Jaap Reesema made a song about breakfast, which he sang on the spot for the children present. This was followed by the Breakfast Symposium, presented by Marlijn Weerdenburg, with contributions from nutritionist Michelle van Roost and behavioural scientist Dr Roel Hermans. The central question was: how can we ensure that healthy breakfast habits become a routine for children?
“Breakfast provides energy, supplies nutrients, prevents snacking, supports bowel movements, and is tasty and enjoyable. You can have a good breakfast by choosing healthier breakfast products, eating mindfully, and sitting at the table without the distraction of TVs and smartphones. The role of parents in having breakfast together is extremely important in passing on this healthy habit: breakfast may seem like a small moment, but it makes a big difference. With the National School Breakfast, we want not only to let children experience how delicious a healthy breakfast is, but also to inspire parents to continue sitting together at the table – even after this week!” says Babs Bruil, organiser of the National School Breakfast.