Diet, Breakfast, and Academic Performance in Children

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether nutrient intake and academic and psychosocial functioning improve after the start of a universal-free school breakfast program (USBP). Methods: Information was gathered from 97 inner city students prior to the start of a USBP and again after the program had been in place for 6 months. Students who had total energy intakes of <50% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) and/or 2 or more micronutrients of <50% of RDA were considered to be at nutritional risk. Results: Prior to the USBP, 33% of all study children were classified as being at nutritional risk. Children who were at nutritional risk had significantly poorer attendance, punctuality, and grades at school, more behavior problems, and were less likely to eat breakfast at school than children who were not at nutritional risk. Six months after the start of the free school breakfast programs, students who decreased their nutritional risk showed significantly greater: improvements in attendance and school breakfast participation, decreases in hunger, and improvements in math grades and behavior than children who did not decrease their nutritional risk. Conclusion: Participation in a school breakfast program enhanced daily nutrient intake and improvements in nutrient intake were associated with significant improvements in student academic performance and psychosocial functioning and decreases in hunger.

Investment in child and adolescent health and development: key messages from Disease Control Priorities , 3rd Edition

“…Findings from two rigorous studies suggest that eating breakfast improves on-task time (amount of time spent focused on the school activity) and attention (Bro and others 1994;Bro and others 1996). A universal, free breakfast program in Boston public schools in the United States improved school attendance and math achievement, and decreased days tardy for children at nutritional risk as assessed in a prepost study during a six-month period (Kleinman and others 2002). Nutritional risk in this study was defined as less than 50 percent of the recommended daily allowance of total energy intake or of two or more micronutrients, or both.…”

Effect of nutrition education intervention based on Pender's Health Promotion Model in improving the frequency and nutrient intake of breakfast consumption among female Iranian students

“…Breakfast consumption is also related to healthier food choices, reduced risk of becoming overweight or obese, decreased incidence of chronic degenerative diseases such as type 2 diabetes or CVD, and improved cognition and learning among adolescents (2)(3)(4)(5) . It has been found that those students who eat breakfast have better maths scores, fewer absences from school and fewer behavioural problems (6) . However, despite the importance of breakfast, young people often skip breakfast more than other meals (7) .…”

Breakfast consumption and daily physical activity in 9–10-year-old British children

“…For example, in Belgian 13-18-year-olds, higher intakes of fruit, vegetables, bread, milk, milk products and fruit juices have been associated with the consumption of a high-quality breakfast, while soft drinks intake has been shown to be significantly lower compared with consumers of a less nutritious breakfast (4) . Missing breakfast has also been associated with decreases in attention, memory and school performance (5,6) , all important factors in children's development. In addition, there are indications that breakfast patterns are linked to overweight and obesity (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) .…”