Do children who eat breakfast perform better in school than those who do not eat breakfast?
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and has an important role in children’s daily activities. Different types of B vitamins, Vitamin D, iron, and iodine are found in higher quantities, i.e. about 20% to 60% in children, who have the habit of eating breakfast as compared to the children who skip breakfast often (Adolphus, Lawton, & Dye, 2013). Moreover, eating breakfast can also help in keeping the body mass index (BMI) within the normal range. Breakfast can help children in reducing the chances of being overweight.
Healthy breakfast having all the essential nutrients can help in enhancing the performance level as it is able to give higher energy levels to the children. It can have positive effects on the children’s body and mind as, for example, it can improve behavior, memory and creativity of children in the classroom. Usually, children who are hungry while going to the school have more chances of distraction from learning, or they can give up different tasks more easily upon facing difficult situations or challenges. It has been reported that breakfast is the most commonly skipped meal in the world. From 20% to 30% of children and adolescents from the developed world skip breakfast (Adolphus, Lawton, & Dye, 2013).
Affect of breakfast on cognitive abilities
Breakfast has been found to have an important link to better cognitive performance of children in the school (Sternberg, Sternberg, & Grigorenko, 2014). It is obvious that eating breakfast can help in controlling appetite resulting in more concentration of children on the necessary tasks throughout the day.
Types of cognitive activities impacted
Breakfast can improve the cognitive performance of children especially their memory and attention. These positive effects are clearly found in children who are undernourished and were given breakfast on regular basis. Improved attention and memory can help children in quick and accurate retrieval of information. Children with the habit of eating breakfast also show better abilities of reading. Moreover, habitual breakfast eating and school breakfast programs can positively affect the academic performance of children with strongest affects on mathematics and arithmetic grades in undernourished children as described below. They are also able to show better problem-solving skills. Children also possess more endurance and creativity in the classroom, and they are also emotionally stronger, if they eat breakfast (Adolphus, Lawton, & Dye, 2013).
Some studies are showing that increased quality of habitual breakfast in the form of more variety of food groups, i.e. from 3 to 4 different types, and different amounts of energy, i.e. more than 20% to 25% of total estimated energy needs, is positively associated to the school performance. School breakfast programs are also found to have more positive effect on arithmetic test scores as well as mathematic grades. Some of the studies are also showing that regular breakfast eaters, i.e. children who eat breakfast more than 4 days per week, have more ability to do better in science and English. Overall, total marks, including that of mathematics and science, have been significantly improved in children, who are habitual of eating breakfast, as compared to children, who don’t eat breakfast regularly (Adolphus, Lawton, & Dye, 2013).
Other effects of breakfast
Breakfast not only improves the learning of children, it can also have positive impact on the on-task behaviors surrounding the learning activities in the classroom. Children with consistent breakfast show more attendance, and improved classroom behavior and vigilant attentiveness. On the other hand, children who skip their breakfast are more prone to have negative effects in the form of giving up more easily during different tasks as they have more chances of reduced physical activity and decreased cardio-respiratory fitness level (Adolphus, Lawton, & Dye, 2013).
It has to be considered that cognitive, academic, and behavioral outcomes are related to each other. Positive changes in cognitive performance can easily be seen in children in the form of positive changes in behavior. An improved attention after eating breakfast, as compared to no breakfast, can be seen by an increase in on-task behavior of children during lessons.
Type and frequency of breakfast
Different quality and type of habitual breakfast, i.e. different varieties of food groups having different amounts of energy, also affect the school performance of children differently. Well-rounded breakfast is important for the improved school performance. Whole grains with milk have much better effect on the performance of children as compared to the low-fiber, high glycemic cereal as, for example, most of the child-oriented cereals. So, the addition of whole grains such as oatmeal, whole-grain cereals, or whole wheat toast to provide carbohydrates could be a good thing for improved performance in addition to eggs, tofu, or lean meat that can provide proteins. Addition of vegetables, fruit or 100% fruit juices can help in supplying vital nutrients. On a further note, high-calcium foods such as yogurt or milk can also help in improving the school performance. Overall, it is better to include the mixture of fiber, protein, and complex carbohydrates in the breakfast of children in the morning. Moreover, increase in the frequency of habitual breakfast is positively related to more academic performance of the children.
Effects of breakfast on people from different ages
Young children are more affected by nutritional effects as a result of skipping the breakfast as compared to adolescence and adults. Children can get more brain activity, and other cognitive, academic, and behavioral activities as a result of more frequent and better breakfast. On the other hand, they would be significantly affected in the negative manner in the absence of breakfast. Children have more brain glucose metabolism than adults. Studies are showing that cerebral metabolic rate of glucose utilization is nearly two times more in children in the age range of 4 to 10 years as compared to adults. However, with the passage of time this glucose utilization decreases, and by the age of 16 to 18 years glucose utilization reaches the normal adult level. Average cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygen levels are 1.8 and 1.3 times higher in children in the age range of 3 to 11 years as compared to adults, respectively. Moreover, longer times of fasting in the night in childhood and adolescence as compared to adults are also responsible for depletion of glycogen stores during the night (Adolphus, Lawton, & Dye, 2013). Researchers have noted that moderate to severe decrease in glucose concentrations can affect the school performance (Brook, & Dattani, 2012). In order to maintain this continuous supply of energy, and to keep the important oxygen and metabolic levels at the required level, it is important to give them breakfast in the morning.
Effects of breakfast on different genders and mood
Gender and mood are also some of the important points to consider regarding the effect of breakfast on school performance, according to the report at the 2003 European Nutrition Conference presented by the University of Ulster (University of Ulster, 2003). Researchers found that although eating breakfast has positive effect on the attention and memory of all children, girls show better school performance if the breakfast includes a good mixture of protein and carbohydrates rather than carbohydrates alone. Moreover, this good performance is more in case of bad mood.
Concluding Remarks
Breakfast is helpful in providing daily micronutrient to the body. Children, who are habitual of eating breakfast, have more chances of having important and favorable nutrients in their body such as total carbohydrate level, dietary fiber, and lower total fat and cholesterol level, therefore they have better school performance.
Most of the studies are showing the immediate cognitive effects of eating the breakfast, i.e. children show improved cognitive functions in the morning after eating the breakfast. Short-term changes in cognitive function such as attention and memory, with habitual eating of breakfast, can help in getting meaningful changes in school performance in the form of increased ability to go to the lectures and remember the points of lessons. In-class and on-task behavior such as ability to remain on the given task and sustained attention in class, as a result of breakfast, has important affects on the school performance. These behaviors are important in attaining more productivity and learning, and it can be considered that they can affect the academic outcomes and school performances in the long run.
However, it has also to be considered that different performance of children in different classes can also be attributed to the socio-economic status, parents, teachers, and educational policy makers.
References
Adolphus, K., Lawton, C. L., & Dye, L. (2013). The effects of breakfast on behavior and academic performance in children and adolescents. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 7.
Brook, C. G. D., & Dattani, M. T. (2012). Handbook of Clinical Pediatric Endocrinology: Wiley.
Sternberg, I. B. M. P. P. E. R. J., Sternberg, R. J., & Grigorenko, E. L. (2014). Environmental Effects on Cognitive Abilities: Taylor & Francis.
