Irish adults want a healthy, balanced diet, but convenience still influences choice, survey finds
Lisa O’Rourke, amateur boxer; Paul O'Donovan, Olympic rower; and Róisín Ní Ríain, Paralympic swimmer, at the launch of the National Dairy Council and Sport Ireland Institute's new three-year partnership.
A survey of more than 1,000 Irish adults has found 41% typically choose convenience breakfast foods, despite saying a healthy meal is important to them.
The survey, commissioned by the National Dairy Council (NDC), found 84% of Irish adults say a healthy, balanced breakfast is important to them, but 41% typically choose convenience-led options such as bread, toast or pastries, with more nutrient-dense choices such as cereal with milk following behind.
Just over a quarter (26%) of respondents said convenience and practicality were their main priority when choosing breakfast, while only 4% opt for a traditional cooked breakfast.
Almost half (49%) eat cereal or granola with milk or yoghurt, while 52% say they eat their meal at the table compared to the 11% who say they always eat on the go.
The research was released alongside the launch of a new three-year partnership between the National Dairy Council and Sport Ireland Institute, Ireland’s national high-performance sport support centre for elite athletes, based on the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown, Dublin.
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The programme, 'High-Performance Breakfast, Powered by Irish Dairy', will provide a nutritious dairy-based breakfast for Ireland’s elite athletes, coaches, and support staff as they prepare for the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The partnership aims to highlight the role of dairy in supporting performance, muscle recovery after exercise, and overall health within a healthy, balanced diet.
The research also found among adults who exercise regularly, 79% reach for water after exercise, 16% choose electrolytes, 15% opt for tea, and just 10% choose milk or flavoured milk, despite its hydration and post-exercise muscle recovery benefits.
Post-exercise, 95% of adults said rehydration was important, followed by muscle repair (85%) and refuelling (75%).
Sport Ireland Institute director, Liam Harbison said: “Elite performance starts long before the competition actually begins. What our high-performance athletes eat, when they eat it, and the quality of it makes a real difference at the highest level.
"As we continue to build toward the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, programmes like this are the kind of practical, evidence-based support that gives Irish sport a competitive edge.”
National Dairy Council chief executive Emma Walls said: “We are very proud to support Irish Olympians and Paralympians on their journey to the LA 2028 games through this new partnership with Sport Ireland Institute… Through this partnership, we are celebrating Ireland’s world-class, grass-fed dairy alongside the best of Irish sporting talent, bringing together elite nutrition and elite performance.”
Senior nutritionist at the National Dairy Council Dr Mary Harrington said: “This research shows that Irish adults want a nutritious and balanced breakfast, but there is a gap between what people prioritise and what they choose in the morning. Irish dairy offers a simple and versatile way to add more nutritional value to breakfast.
“Milk also plays a valuable role in muscle recovery after exercise. It is made up of approximately 87% water, but the remaining 13% contains electrolytes such as potassium, carbohydrate in the form of lactose, and high-quality protein including casein and whey, supporting the three key post-exercise needs often referred to as the 'Three Rs' of sports nutrition: rehydrate, refuel, and repair.”
Double Olympic champion and three-time Olympic medallist rower, Paul O’Donovan, who joined the National Dairy Council at Sport Ireland Institute to mark the launch, said: “When you’re training at a high level, especially coming up to big competitions, it’s not just the sessions on the water that matter; the things around them make a difference too. Breakfast is one of those.”
Mr O’Donovan added: “It’s great to see the National Dairy Council partnering with Sport Ireland Institute on this programme. Having a good breakfast available five days a week is a real support for athletes.
"We’re always trying to get the nutrition right, but we’re not always blessed with time. Dairy is something most of us know from everyday life, but it has a very practical role in sport too, particularly for energy, protein, and hydration.”
To learn more about the National Dairy Council and daily dairy needs, visit the NDC website.
