Children who eat breakfast before school 'twice as likely to perform well in tests'

You may want to finish that breakfast omelette and glass of milk. New research has shown that children who eat breakfast before school are twice as likely to score highly in tests and assessments than those who start learning on an empty stomach.

A typical Hong Kong style ‘Cha chaan teng’ breakfast may include pan fried eggs, a bun and a cup of milk tea

Nutritionists have long argued that eating breakfast helps a child concentrate better at school - and have already shown a link between eating breakfast and staying healthy. However, a study of 5,000 nine to 11-years-olds carried out by Cardiff University reveals the first authoritative link between starting the day with a healthy breakfast and scoring above average marks in exams.

A healthy breakfast of cereal, blueberries and orange juice

A researcher mentioned,

“This study offers the strongest evidence yet of links between aspects of what pupils eat and how well they do at school.”

But don’t reach for that donut or deep fried chicken wings. Eating unhealthy items such as sweets and crisps for breakfast - as one in five children do - does not have any positive spin-off in academic achievement.

No potato crisps for breakfast!

However, the researchers also found that regular food consumption throughout the day - this time including sweets and crisps as well as fruit and vegetable - also boosted academic performance and concentration levels.

Regular food consumption throughout the day can help academic performance

Said a co-author of the report,

“There is ...  good reason to believe that where schools are able to find ways of encouraging those young people who don’t eat breakfast at home to eat a school breakfast, they will reap significant educational benefits.”

(All images - credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)