Many children go to school without breakfast

Many children leave the house in the morning without breakfast and sweets serve as a snack.

(19.08.2010) A survey conducted by the Forsa Institute on behalf of the Techniker-Krankenkasse found out when interviewing 1000 parents that about every seventh child does not have breakfast before school. The reasons are varied and range from „lack of appetite“ the pupils (25 percent of respondents) up to „no time in the morning“(about 30 percent of respondents). The nutritionist of the Techniker-Krankenkasse, Alexandra Krotz, emphasized again in this context how important the morning meal is: „Children are only really fit for school if they have breakfast in the morning in peace.“ So she advises the parents in any case to take the time for a corresponding morning meal. When starting school at 8:00 am, many students have to leave the house shortly after 7:00 am. A breakfast of about 30 minutes, so it should already start at about 6.30 clock. However, it is also to be understood that most children are not really hungry at the time and that one or the other prefers to sleep half an hour longer. So who in the morning „but do not want to eat anything, should (...) drink at least a glass of milk or a little fruit juice“, said the nutritionist.

As a result of not having breakfast, the ability to concentrate in school is greatly reduced and the children are also more irritable and nervous, said the expert.

As a substitute for the unusual morning meal, many parents give their children cash for the break bread purchase. However, the money is often invested by the children in chocolate or other sweets to quench their food cravings during the big breaks. „The (sweets) shoot up the insulin levels and then quickly sink again. It threatens a performance low“ so Kortz. Therefore, she recommends as a snack snack foods that provide much long-lasting energy. So in their opinion z. B. a wholemeal bread with cottage cheese or bananas ideal.

The AOK Family Study 2010, which was published in June, also emphasized that regular eating together and clear structural guidelines especially protect children from obesity. As part of the AOK study, around 2,000 parents from all over Germany were surveyed and, among other things, the causes of overweight were examined. The study found that only 64 percent of children regularly have breakfast with their parents and that children who do not or rarely have breakfast with their parents are about twice as likely to be overweight. Having breakfast together strengthens the child physically as well as mentally, giving them security, according to family research. This demonstrably reduces the risk of overweight and the risk of mental illness. (Fp)

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