A poll of 900 parents of primary school children found 19% whose kids start the day on empty stomach claim they don’t have ‘any suitable’ food in the home. And a further 17% struggle to afford breakfast food for their family on a daily basis.
But 47% fret kids will be hungry before their first break, and 31% worry about them being able to concentrate. One in 10 mums and dads have turned to school breakfast clubs to ensure their little ones don’t go hungry.
The research was commissioned by General Mills, which in partnership with the Greggs Foundation, funds 1.2 million breakfasts every year for children through its Breakfast Club programme.
A spokesperson for General Mills said: “No child should go without, especially at breakfast. It’s really important for kids to have the energy they need to sustain them through school, when they are exercising their minds as much as their bodies at playtime. Not all families are able to afford breakfast every day, but they needn’t feel alone”.
When kids do eat their breakfast at home on a school day, only 31% are ‘very confident’ they’re getting all the nutrition they need. And two thirds (64%) of those who do struggle to afford to keep their families fed in the morning say rising food costs is the key reason.
One in six (15%) respondents have at one time or another used a food bank to provide meals for their loved ones. And 20% of all the parents polled fear it’s likely they will need to use one at some point soon, according to the OnePoll figures.
While 72% say breakfast helps set their child up for the day, nearly a tenth (8%) report without breakfast clubs, their child would often go without. Nearly four in 10 (38%) of parents also find their kids will say they’re hungry as soon as they wake up, often or very often.
General Mills’ spokesperson added: “Parents want to know their children are getting the nutrition they need for the best start each day. But increasingly they are needing help to meet this need. This is why food banks and breakfast clubs continue to be such valuable resources for families.”