Fifty six percent of Irish parents say that their kids skip meals. Breakfast is the most likely meal to be skipped, followed by lunch and dinner.
The Kellogg’s Sorted 4 School Survey also reveals that nearly all Irish parents (96%) recognise the importance of breakfast for school-going children and make a special effort to encourage their child to eat breakfast every day before they leave for school.
The main reason parents of primary school children gave for their children missing breakfast is that their child is a fussy eater (56%). In contrast, more than half (55%) of teenagers who skipped meals said it was because they are usually too busy.
It’s clear that parents have a desire for the family to start the day well, but that’s just not happening in many Irish households. It's surprising because there’s not much preparation required for breakfast compared to lunch or dinner.
It can be very simple yet nutritious and requires only a few minutes. Easy things like setting the table the night before, can be a visible reminder for a teenager of the need to refuel the brain and body before leaving for school the following morning. These results show us that while parents recognise and are committed to the importance of this meal – they still struggle to ensure that kids eat breakfast every day.
Not surprising perhaps, in today’s busy society, only 12% of parents said that their family eats breakfast together every day, with almost two thirds (59%) of teenagers saying that they rarely eat breakfast with their families.
We’re all aware that breakfast is an important meal. However the reality is that many children and teenagers are not 'breaking' the 'fast' before they leave for school. The concern then is when do they next eat, and what do they next eat? Is it something from the sweet shop or vending machine at school? How does this habit affect their long term health and even short term performance in terms of concentrating or playing their sport well. Having breakfast together, even if it’s only for ten minutes, means that both parents and children receive many essential nutrients to start the day such as calcium, iron and fibre amongst others.
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.
