Abstract
Breakfast is considered one of the crucial elements of a healthy diet. Most studies evaluate breakfast consumption with the risk of obesity and other health effects. Less attention is paid to the evaluation of breakfast composition and patterns. Thus, this study aimed to describe the most frequently observed breakfast patterns and to assess breakfast composition and quality in a group of Polish early school-age children. The cross-sectional survey study was conducted in school years 2017/2018 and 2018/2019. Information regarding breakfast was obtained with the use of an original paper-based weekly observation diary, and breakfast quality was assessed with a special scoring designed to be used together with the diary. In total, 223 schoolchildren of the second and third grades participated in the study, and 200 diaries were analyzed. More than ¾ of the participants consumed breakfast every day. Nearly 68% of meals were classified as well balanced, but only 16.5% of children eat a well-balanced breakfast every day. The number of children who usually (≥5 times per week) eat a sandwich for breakfast was 94 (47%), and that of those who habitually eat cereal and milk or porridge was 29 (14.5%). Only 7% of children consumed fruit or vegetables for breakfast daily, and 26.5% never eat fruit or vegetables for breakfast. Concluding, most children eat breakfast regularly, but the meal composition and quality might be improved.
Highlights
The dietary pattern is an essential factor influencing the general health and well-being of an individual
Information regarding breakfast was obtained with the use of an original paper-based weekly observation diary, and breakfast quality was assessed with a special scoring designed to be used together with the diary
200 diaries (89.69%) were fully compiled and contained observations for breakfast for seven consecutive days reported by 114 girls (57%) and 86 boys (43%)
Summary
The dietary pattern is an essential factor influencing the general health and well-being of an individual. Proper nutrition, including regular breakfast consumption, has a great impact on children’s growth and development [1,2]. The relationship between breakfast consumption and disease prevalence has been studied extensively. It is suggested that skipping breakfast is associated with unfavorable plasma cholesterol levels and increases the risk of arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity [7,8,9,10,11]. Children who consume breakfast regularly are more likely to have favorable macro- and micro-nutrient intake, including higher intake of dietary fiber and total carbohydrates, and lower total fats and cholesterol [12,13], while skipping breakfast has been associated with a lower likelihood of meeting recommended nutrient intakes [12,13]
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