One in 5 children go with out breakfast as dad and mom blame ‘no meals in the home’

On May 21, 2024

A survey of 900 parents with primary school-aged children revealed that 19% of those whose kids start the day without breakfast claim they don’t have ‘any suitable’ food at home. Additionally, 17% struggle to afford breakfast for their family daily.

However, 47% worry their children will be hungry before their first break, and 31% are concerned about their ability to concentrate. To ensure their children don’t go hungry, one in 10 parents have turned to school breakfast clubs.

The study was commissioned by General Mills, which, in partnership with the Greggs Foundation, provides 1.2 million breakfasts annually for children through its Breakfast Club programme.

A spokesperson for General Mills stated: “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”.

A poll of 900 parents of primary school children found 19 per cent whose kids don’t start every day with a meal don’t have ‘any suitable’ food in the home.
(Image: SWNS – Emma Trimble)

When children do eat breakfast at home on a school day, only 31% of parents are ‘very confident’ they’re getting all the nutrition they need. And two-thirds (64%) of those who struggle to afford to feed their families in the morning cite rising food costs as the main reason.

One in six (15%) respondents have used a food bank to provide meals for their loved ones at some point. According to OnePoll figures, a worrying 20% of all parents surveyed fear they will soon need to use a food bank.

While a whopping 72% believe breakfast is crucial for their child’s day, nearly one in ten (8%) report that without breakfast clubs, their child would often go without. Almost four in 10 (38%) of parents also find their kids claim they’re hungry as soon as they wake up, often or very often.

A spokesperson for General Mills commented: “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.”