Why a good breakfast is a must for your kids

Almost half of Irish parents struggle to convince kids to eat a healthy breakfast according to new research, writes Helen O’Callaghan.

The survey of more than 400 parents was conducted as part of a campaign by Fruit Juice Matters, a pan-European, science-based programme across 14 countries that aims to share unbiased information on the benefits of 100% fruit juice drunk in moderation, as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Some 42% of Irish parents say they find it challenging getting their kids to kick-start their day with a healthy meal. And it’s for a myriad of reasons, says dietician Sarah Keogh of eatwell.ie

“Some children mightn’t have got into healthy habits early on — it’s hard to change habits as they get older. Some are fussy eaters.”

Plus, she says parents might feel they don’t have time in the mornings so things can be rushed — it can be hard to give children time to wake up and be ready for breakfast.

“And some kids take longer to eat,” says Keogh, adding that many

parents have to come up with solutions that work in these challenging

scenarios.

“I’ve met parents who give their children breakfast in the car — a banana or a carton of pure fruit juice.”

Over a third (37%) of parents say their children’s reluctance to eat breakfast is because they don’t enjoy eating early in the morning, while a further 11% put it down to spending more time in bed and not having enough time to eat.

Keogh says plenty of people don’t feel like eating in the morning.

“But if you can get an adult to eat breakfast every morning for three weeks, they’ll start waking up wanting it. It can happen with kids too.”

The survey also found that Irish families aren’t getting enough fruit and vegetables in their diet. While 78% of parents say their family eats fruit and veg daily, just under two thirds (62%) are eating three portions or less per day — two less than the recommended daily amount.

Given the lack of fruit and veg intake, it’s no surprise that over half of parents (53%) say their children pick up a cough or cold almost every year within the first eight weeks back at school.

“I’m always amazed at how many people don’t take the time to have a good breakfast — or any breakfast,” says Keogh. “It makes such a difference to your metabolism and concentration, not to mention giving you the essential vitamins your body system needs to help fight colds and bugs.”

Keep clogged arteries at bay 

IF you want to keep clogged arteries at bay then eating a good breakfast could help.

A Spanish study of 4,000 adults aged 40 to 54, found that nearly 75% of participants who skipped breakfast had a build- up of plaque which put them more at risk of heart disease.

That was compared with 57% of people who ate a big breakfast, and 64% of those who ate a light one. Those who ate breakfast tended to be healthier overall due to their general diet.

They were inclined to eat more fruits and vegetables, seafood and lean meat, for instance. They were less likely to be obese or have high blood pressure, diabetes or unhealthy cholesterol levels.

But even considering all those factors, breakfast-skipping, itself, was tied to a higher risk of atherosclerosis. The findings were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.