Did you know that more than four in every five (83%) Irish Mums insist that their children eat a proper breakfast before they leave for school every morning while only a quarter of UK Mums do the same.
According to the Kellogg’s Sorted for School Survey, the vast majority of Irish Mums (91%) never give their kids money to buy their own breakfast. For the minority that do, it is Mums of secondary school children who are more likely to do so. However, in the UK, 16% of schoolchildren are given money to buy their own breakfast en route to school. This rises to one in four amongst secondary schoolchildren – a worrying trend when more than two thirds of parents who give their children money to buy their own breakfast admit that it is inevitable that they will spend some or all of it on foods that are unsuitable for breakfast.
Over three quarters of Irish Mums (76%) provide their children with a packed lunch every day – particularly mothers of primary school children (90%). Encouragingly, results from the survey show that most Irish Mum's are getting the balance right, with most including a good variety of healthy foods in school lunchboxes.
Irish Mums' favourite lunchbox choices for kids are:
Sandwich/roll, 95%
Fruit, 74%
Juice, 61%
Yoghurt, 59%
Water, 59%
Cereal bar, 45%
Crackers and cheese, 41%
It is great to see from this survey that Irish Mums know how important nutritious healthy food choices are to their children’s development and progress in school. If children start the day with a good breakfast followed by a well-balanced nutritious lunch they will get so much more from their day of learning at school.
The statistics from the UK are worrying, in particular the number of young children who are given money to buy their breakfast. Hopefully we won’t adopt that trend here. Having breakfast together, even if it’s only for ten minutes can help address some of the nutrient shortfalls in fibre, calcium and iron levels that we currently see in young children and many adults.
Despite the more positive feedback from Irish mums as opposed to UK mums, more than half of Irish Mums polled are still concerned that their children's diets are not ideal. However, if we sit and eat together, make sure that healthy choices in breakfast cereals, breads and dairy are readily available and enjoyed at home, we can be confident of a better start to the day.”
500 Irish Mums took part in the survey which was carried out by Empathy Research from 5th - 10th August 2009. Opinion Matters conducted the survey in the UK among 1000 children aged 7-14 and 1000 parents of children aged 7-14.
Keep in mind that research on these matters is on-going and is subject to change. The information presented is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. It is intended to provide ongoing support of your healthy lifestyle practices.
