National Schools Breakfast Week, 9-13 September 2024

Research suggests that up to 1 in 3 school-aged children skip breakfast, with teenagers, especially girls, and children from households on lower incomes particularly at risk. 

National Schools Breakfast Week (9-13 September 2024) is fast approaching, so we asked Bridget Benelam, Nutrition Communications Manager at the British Nutrition Foundation and mum of two, why breakfast really matters and for some guidance and practical tips on providing a healthy breakfast.

Why is breakfast important for school-aged children and young people?

Healthy breakfasts provide important nutrients for children’s health and development, including carbohydrates, fibre, protein, B vitamins, iron and calcium. Breakfast provides energy after the overnight fast, giving them the fuel they need to learn and be active.

What are the consequences for children and young people who don’t have breakfast?

If children regularly miss out on breakfast, this can make it harder for them to get all the nutrients they need for good health and will likely mean they are hungry during the morning, making it harder for them to concentrate and learn.

What would the ‘ideal’ breakfast be?

An ideal breakfast would include some wholegrains such as wholemeal breads or cereals, some fruit or vegetables (or both!), some dairy or protein foods, such as milk, natural yogurt, beans or eggs, and a drink – water or milk are the best choices. You could provide fruit juice or a smoothie as a drink, but remember it’s recommended to have one small glass a day of either fruit juice or smoothie.

Mornings are often a stressful time for families as everyone is trying to get up and out on time. What tips do you have to ensure children and young people can still get a healthy breakfast during the morning rush?

I definitely find mornings stressful with my children as there are so many things to get ready and everyone needs to get somewhere on time. It can be a challenge to fit everything in, but breakfast doesn’t have to be elaborate to be healthy. Options like wholemeal toast with toppings like cream cheese or peanut butter, lower sugar, wholegrain cereal with milk, a piece of fruit and a drink are fine. If you’re able to set things like packs of cereal, bowls and spoons out the night before, then this can help you start the day ready. And, if possible, set things up so that children can serve themselves, depending on their age.

Some children and young people find it hard to eat first thing in the morning. How can we make sure they still have a healthy breakfast when they can’t face an early morning meal?

If you find your children can’t face breakfast at home first thing, you could look at some ‘grab and go’ options that they could eat on the way to school. This means they have something handy to set them up for the day so that they’re not hungry or tempted to get unhealthy snacks instead. You could try a filled wholemeal bagel or roll and a piece of fruit, or experiment with breakfast wrap fillings. If you have time to make some of your own breakfast options, you could try making baked oats with fresh or dried fruit or some homemade cereal bars.

Children and young people often want sugary cereals at breakfast time. Is it better to allow them to eat these, rather than to have no breakfast at all?

Sugary breakfast cereals are not the healthiest option, but it is important that children have something rather than nothing for breakfast. For children who really like these cereals, it’s a good idea to shift them to lower sugar versions and set ground rules that they are not a regular breakfast option. To start with, you could mix them with lower sugar, wholegrain options and add fresh or dried fruit for sweetness.

Many families enjoy a cooked breakfast a weekends, can a cooked breakfast ever be a healthy choice?

A traditional fry up can include a lot of oil and fatty, processed meats, but cooked breakfasts can be healthy and give you the opportunity to have a wider variety of foods at breakfast. Eggs are a really versatile and nutritious option – you could try having scrambled eggs or omelette with peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes or try shakshuka – eggs cooked in a rich tomato and pepper sauce. You could also add plant protein by including beans. Baked beans are a favourite, and you could even make your own if you’re feeling adventurous! It’s also a great idea to add extra vegetables – mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes and spinach can work well in a cooked breakfast. If your family likes a traditional fry up occasionally then they can be made healthier by choosing items like wholemeal toast and low-fat spread, one rasher of grilled lean back bacon (fat trimmed), poached eggs, canned/grilled tomatoes, mushrooms cooked in a small amount of vegetable oil, and reduced sugar and salt baked beans.

How can schools help children and young people get a healthy breakfast?

School breakfast clubs are a great way to help children and young people get a healthy breakfast as well as being a lifeline for busy parents. Children will often try eating something with their peers that they wouldn’t necessarily eat at home, so it’s a good opportunity to use the social setting to encourage healthy choices. Unfortunately, teachers report that many children come to school hungry, and that this can affect their learning. School breakfast clubs can offer a nutritional safety net for the most vulnerable children, contributing to intakes of essential nutrients, and helping them fulfill their potential.

National Schools Breakfast Week, 9-13 September 2024, is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of breakfast in your setting or school!

Take a look at the National Schools Breakfast Week resources. These include:

• Planning guide (how to run your week - what to do and what to serve)
• Poster
• Breakfast presentation (to introduce the week – use as an assembly)
• Breakfast cards (for pupil activities)
• Breakfast record (pupil tracker)
• Parent/carer factsheets (primary or secondary)
• Good breakfast guide (information about the importance of health breakfasts)
• Communications pack

Explore the breakfast resources on Food – a fact of life:

• 3-5 years – Tasty toast session
• 5-7 years – Bring on breakfast food project
• 11-16 years – Weighing and measuring breakfast cereal task and activity sheet