Six ways a hearty breakfast sets kids up for the day, and for life
In a bid to tackle Britain’s child poverty crisis, the Labour government has announced a new breakfast club initiative, in collaboration with the Child Poverty Taskforce.
The scheme, which will come into effect in April this year, will be rolled out across all nine regions and initially be available at 750 primary and early adopter schools. Not only will children at the selected schools be eligible for a free breakfast, parents can also benefit from at least 30 minutes of free childcare and save up to £450 a year, per the Department for Education.
According to a report published by the House of Lords last year, some 4.3million children – or 30% of all children in the UK – were living in low-income households in 2022/23.
Here, we explore the benefits of breakfast and how the first meal of the day can help set kids up for the day – and for life.
Six benefits of kids eating breakfast
1. It boosts energy and productivity
Just as adults may wake up feeling sluggish and tired, so may children. In order to combat this feeling of lethargy, what they eat and drink in the morning is really important in terms of their motivation and energy throughout the day, as well as their productivity.
Studies have shown that breakfast results in greater physical activity thermogenes than fasting. Skipping breakfast also has a greater impact on children and teens, and influences their mental as well as physical output.
Although the brain only represents 2% of our body weight, it accounts for 25% of the total body glucose consumption, which is more than any other organ in the body. Studies have also indicated that the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose utilisation is approximately twice as high in children aged 4-10 years than adults, meaning, therefore, they require a higher intake.
Breakfast consumption is additionally linked to improved hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills.
2. It keeps hunger at bay and is warming
A clinical report from 2022 suggested that late eating not only increases wake-time hunger, it also decreases wake-time energy and core body temperature.
Late eating has also been linked to obesity risk, with studies showing that children who regularly eat breakfast regularly have a lower BMI and risk of obesity than those who skip it.
3. It contributes to a healthy, balanced diet
The NHS recommends eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day – as well as a healthy diet consisting of protein, fibre, legumes and pulses, and unsaturated fats. And, well, that can be even more difficult if you’re skipping one of your three meals of the day.
By adding some of these healthy options to your child’s morning routine, you are helping them on their way to achieving better overall health, and you are teaching them healthy eating habits to adopt in the long-term.
4. It helps breaks down inequalities
Beyond the health benefits, there are many socio-economic factors at play when it comes to child poverty. Those who are from lower-income households can be subjected to stigma and be more likely to experience bullying than their peers.
The Anti-Bullying Alliance has also identified the current free school meals (FSM) initiative – which impacts 24.6% of all students – as a potential source of bullying, stating that as well as traditional forms of intimidation, these students are more vulnerable to online abuse.
It outlines how poverty contributes to feelings of inferiority and otherness, especially in combination with hygiene and appearance – with 46% of teachers stating this as a cause of bullying.
That said, by assisting parents with the burden of feeding their children, schemes like the free school meals and the upcoming breakfast clubs can reduce these types of stigmas, as families feel less pressured, have more money to spend on other things and there’s generally a better atmosphere and home environment.
What’s more, the Anti-Bullying Alliance isn’t against these schemes, but does suggest that, in addition to things like banning non-uniform days and raising awareness and compassion among students, schools can deal with those eligible for these schemes in a more discrete manner.
5. It improves memory and cuts distractions
Research conducted in 2009 reviewed the effect breakfast has on cognitive function, assessing attention and memory, among other things. It found that consistent breakfast-eating had short-term (same morning) positive effects on cognitive function 4 hours after consumption, and that cognitive function was boosted mainly in undernourished children as a result of eating breakfast. It also suggested a link between breakfast consumption and overall academic performance.
In a survey conducted by Family Action, 81% of teachers said that hungry children are unable to concentrate.
6. It can improve behaviour and mood
We’re all familiar with the term “hangry” – a portmanteau of “hungry” and “angry” – and, well, there is something to it.
Lauren Blake of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center says: “Food directly impacts behavior and emotions, and putting a little thought into your morning routine can help improve your mood all day long.”
It isn’t just about what we eat – it’s about when we eat. But mood-boosting nutrients that we should all try and incorporate into our morning routine include:
Iron
Folate
Thiamine
Omega-3 fatty acids
Phenylethylamine
Eating a healthy breakfast has especially been linked to improved mental health and mood among teenagers, and studies have also shown that unhealthy dietary patterns are linked to behavioural disorders such as ADHD.
Read more on healthy breakfast ideas:
Nine ways to make porridge healthier (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
10 healthy breakfasts you can prep in advance (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
Seven simple ways to make toast a healthy breakfast choice (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
