An Exploratory Study to Assess the Skipping of Breakfast & Its Ill Effect among School Children’s [10 to 15 yrs] at Government Higher Secondary Schools in Varanasi.

Abstract

Breakfast is the first meal of the day. The word is a compound of break and fast, referring to the conclusion of fasting since the previous days last meals, hence breaking the fast. Breakfast is among the principle food which in early morning satisfies the nutrional needs and increases mental work load ability. Breakfast should contain verified food for the ease of digestion and absorption process. Eating, therefore, did not mean only to fill up the stomach but nutrional benefits should also be considered.
Skipping breakfast can affect school children physical and mental development. Skipping breakfast may hinder child growth because the body is forced to call upon stores of protein to met energy requirements. Behavioral problems in children –including decreased attentiveness, irritability and hyperactivity-have been reported to be associated with the transient hunger resulting from missing breakfast. Providing breakfast to students at school has been reported to improve some cognitive functions, particularly in undernourished children’s.