A survey of breakfast practices of 4-12 year old children

Abstract

Objectives To assess time of intake of breakfast and choice of food consumed by school children, identify underlying reasons for prevailing breakfast practices and describe the knowledge and attitude of mothers about the nutritional needs of their children in relation to breakfast . Study design A descriptive cross sectional study using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Study setting A medical ward at Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Colombo Study population Children aged 4-12 years, admitted to the professorial ward with an acute illness of less than three days duration between 1st December 2006 and 28th February 2007. Exclusion criteria were severe or chronic illness, food allergy, dietary restrictions, special diet schedules, growth abnormality/ties or developmental delay. Method A modified food frequency questionnaire was used to gather data on demographic and dietary details. Consumption patterns of five commonly eaten food groups were investigated based on dietary recall. Portion sizes and nutritive values were not assessed. Results Of a total of 220 children, 96% were school-going. Majority (81%) were resident in the Western province and were represented by Sinhalese (79.5%), Tamils (10.5%) and Muslims (10%). All mothers were literate and 60% had studied up to or above GCE (O Levels). In 80% monthly family income was above Rs. 8000. Population studied comprised mostly of primary school children. Male to female ratio was 1:1.08 and no significant differences in breakfast practices or nutritional status were found between sexes.Of 211 school children, only 63 (30%) ate breakfast and 70% left home without breakfast. First food consumed by 90% was a beverage i.e. tea with milk (70%), full cream milk (16%). Rice or rice flour based cooked food was consumed by 51% and wheat flour based foods by 36%. Home cooked meals were provided for 85% of children but 67% preferred to eat fast foods. No significant difference was found in breakfast practices between the underweight and normal weight children.

All mothers said “breakfast is essential” but only 64% thought that a balanced meal was necessary for breakfast. Fast foods were the most liked food items and wheat flour based items came next. Rice was the first preference in only 18%. Conclusions Majority of children left for school without breakfast and ate during the mid- morning break. Although home cooked rice meals were provided the preferred breakfast food was bread or wheat flour based foods. Fast foods were the most liked food items. Intake of fruit was very low among school children surveyed. We recommend that schools either provide breakfast or time for consuming the food that was brought from home, before start of lessons _________________________________________