Breakfast can decrease absenteeism in schools
As temperatures decrease, the numbers of hungry children increase.
BREAKFAST for Better Days hosted an event at Jubilee Senior Primary School in Mariannhill to highlight World Hunger Day on Thursday.
Hunger is a serious issue in South Africa, as one in five pupils go to school on an empty stomach each day.
Breakfast for Better Days serves breakfast to 25 000 pupils nationally each school day, with principals of participating schools reporting on improved behaviour and decline in absenteeism among pupils.
As temperatures decrease, the numbers of hungry children increase.
Kelly Francis, a KwaZulu-Natal-based dietitian, said in winter we require more energy to maintain good health.
“All self-regulatory systems in the body, such as temperature control, require energy. Exposure to cold weather without proper warm clothing will result in an increased use of food energy for body temperature regulation. This will increase food energy requirements in winter,” said Francis.
The challenges of hunger are greatest in the morning hours, and this is particularly relevant to children, who do the bulk of their learning before midday.
A study of children found a significant difference in fatigue levels two hours after breakfast between breakfast eaters and breakfast skippers.
“Those children that had not eaten since the night before reported a greater feeling of fatigue at the mid-morning mark of the day. The study also found that eating a breakfast of good nutritional quality can influence blood glucose control and insulin levels significantly enough to prevent disease.
“The best way to combat winter colds and flu is through good nutrition, which has a positive effect on the immune system. Vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D and E play a role in immune protection, and providing an increased intake of these nutrients will enhance the capacity of the body to fight infection.
“This will therefore reduce illness-related absenteeism,” she added.
Breakfast is certainly making its mark at the 43 participating Breakfast for Better Days schools, with principals reporting as high as a 30 per cent improvement in winter attendance.
