STUDY HARD and EAT BREAKFAST

Rainbow Unicorn

ARTICULO, Allen Dave P.

ESTIOKO, Clarissa Lydia D.
MARQUEZ, Ron Kristoffer R.

Final Project Submitted to:

Ms. Jeanette S. Rey
SMIT-CA
DLS - College of St. Benilde

September 3, 2010
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The group would like to thank God for His undying love and support.
ABSTRACT

The purpose of this campaign is to further encourage Benildeans to eat a healthy

breakfast for a better academic performance. Forty students from the College of Saint

Benilde participated in this study by answering a survey about their performance in

school. These students were also asked whether they eat breakfast or not. The results

were comparable to the previous studies done by other researchers.

 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Almost everyday, the students of FMP1 seem to become less focused on learning and

less motivated to excel. The reason behind this dilemma might not be because of their

apathy to certain subjects. A lot of studies have been done regarding the correlation

between eating breakfast and school performance.

A study conducted by Dr. Ronald Kleinman, a Harvard Medical School researcher,

showed that students who eat breakfast were considerably more attentive in class.

These students also had higher math grades and fewer behavioral problems. Another

similar study was done by Dr. J. Michael Murphy of the Massachusetts General

Hospital. This research included a free breakfast program for three schools in

Baltimore.

“Our findings show that it is possible to obtain large increases in school breakfast

participation and that when school breakfast participation rates go up, student

outcome measures improve,” as said by Dr. Murphy.

There was a significant decrease in the rates of absences, tardiness, and behavioral

problems in the three schools who participated in the free breakfast program. A similar

study by a research unit chiefly led by D. T. Simeon and Sally Grantham-McGregor

from the University of West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica showed that the cognitive

functions of children improved when they were given breakfast. The verbal fluency and
the ability of students to process information also got better. According to Bonnie

Spring, Ph. D. from the University of Health Sciences and Chicago Medical School)

eating breakfast of any kind prevent many of the adverse effects of fasting such as

irritability and fatigue.

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gets children off to a good

start whether they're in school or at home,” – Edith Howard Hogan, R.D., L.D., of

the American Dietetic Association

Breakfast does not only improve the academic performance of the students, it was also

said to keep you fit and healthy because most of the nutrition your body needs is offered

in breakfast foods. For instance, a whole-grain cereal with milk has fiber, folic acid and

calcium, which are not normally available in other foods. A healthy breakfast provides

enough nutrients to energize the body for hours. Given such energy, one may be able

to engage in more physical and mental activities which will result to a healthy mind and

a healthy body.
 MARKET RESEARCH

A survey was conducted in Loyola University, New Orleans to determine if there is a

positive relationship between eating breakfast before class and school performance.

This study included the participation of ninety-six freshmen undergraduate students.

They were given a memory test wherein they have to recall eight words in the correct

sequence. After the test, the students were asked to rate their school performance by

using factors such as alertness, attention span, mood, class participation, and the like.

The survey also asked about their breakfast consumption. The results indicated that

breakfast does have an effect on the performance of students in school.

Table 1

Results from Memory Test and Self-Reports on School Performance

Breakfast No Breakfast

School Performance Measure M SD M SD t (94) p

Memory Test 4.4 1.2 3.4 1.4 3.7 <.001

Alertness 2.4 .9 2.4 .6 .6 .6

Participation 2.8 .9 2.9 1.1 -.3 .7

Attention span 2.3 .9 2.4 .6 -.5 .6

Concentration 1.8 .7 1.8 .6 -.02 1.0

Mood 2.6 .7 2.6 .8 -.1 1.0

Note-taking 1.4 .8 1.4 .7 .4 .7

Test-taking 2.8 1.1 2.6 .8 1.0 .3

[Source: http://clearinghouse.missouriwestern.edu/manuscripts/203.php]
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Internet sources:

(n.a.). (n.d.). Mr. Breakfast: Why eat breakfast? (The Facts). Retrieved September 1,
2010 from http://www.mrbreakfast.com/article.asp?articleid=7

(n.a.). (2002). Breakfast and Behavior: Do you want to improve behavior and
attendance? Retrieved September 2, 2010 from
http://www.advantagepress.com/newsletters/dec02.asp

Bagwell, S. E. (2000). The relationship between breakfast and school performance.

Retrieved September 2, 2010 from http://www.all-science-fair-
projects.com/science_fair_projects/28/331/8171dbf5aac59dce1ffdf3761cacd26c.html

Cherry, K. (n.d). Breakfast and Learning: Does breakfast improve school performance?.
Retrieved September 1, 2010 from
http://psychology.about.com/od/psychologyexperiments/a/breakfast-exper.htm

Kleinman, R. (1998 March). New Harvard research shows school breakfast program
may improve childrens behavior and performance. Retrieved September 1, 2010 from
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/breakfast.html

Staub, L. M. (n.d.). The Correlation between eating breakfast and school performance.
Retrieved September 1, 2010 from
http://clearinghouse.missouriwestern.edu/manuscripts/203.php

Similar studies:

Crockett, S., & Sims, L. (1995). Environmental Influences on Childrens Eating. Journal
of Nutrition Education, 27, 235-245.

Pollitt, E. (1995). Does breakfast make a difference in school? Journal of the American
Dietetic Association, 95, 1134.

Simeon, D.T., & Grantham-McGregor, S. (1989). Effects of missing breakfast on the

cognitive functions of school children of differing nutritional status. American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition, 49, 646-653.

Worobey, J., & Worobey, H.S. (1999). The impact of a two-year school breakfast
program for preschool-aged children on their nutrient intake and pre-academic
performance. Child Study Journal, 29, 113.
 APPENDIX A: Role Matrix
Group Member
ARTICULO, Allen Dave P.
ESTIOKO, Clarissa Lydia D.
MARQUEZ, Ron Kristoffer R.
Contribution(s)
 Initiated the concept “Study Hard”
for the campaign
 Created the design for the poster
 Executed the design for the poster
 Printed the poster
 Added the concept of “Eat
Breakfast” for a more specific
campaign
 Researched regarding the effects of
Eating Breakfast to School
Performance
 Wrote the Acknowledgements,
Introduction, Bibliography, and
Appendices for the documentation
 Created the powerpoint
presentation

APPENDIX B: Gantt Chart
 APPENDIX C: Survey used for Table 1 in Market Research

Survey

Part A: On each of the following questions, please circle the choice that best
defines you.

1. Before lunch, how alert do you feel in your classes?

Very Alert Alert Somewhat Alert Not Alert

1 2 3 4

2. How often do you participate in your classes before lunch?

Very Often Often Sometimes Very Little Never

1 2 3 4 5

3. How long is your attention span in class before lunch?

100% Of 75% Of 50% Of 25% Of Less Than 25% Of

Class Class Class Class Class

Time Time Time Time Time

1 2 3 4 5

4. How hard do you find it to concentrate in class before lunch?

Not Hard Somewhat Hard Hard Very Hard

1 2 3 4

5. In general, how would you describe your mood in classes before lunch?

Highly Somewhat Neutral Somewhat Negative

Positive Positive 3 Negative 5

1 2 4

6. How often do you take notes in your classes before lunch?

Frequently Somewhat Often Sometimes Seldom Never

1 2 3 4 5
7. During tests, how much anxiety do you generally experience in classes
before lunch?

No Little Some Anxiety High

Anxiety Anxiety Anxiety 4 Anxiety

1 2 3 5

Part B: Please present us with the following information about yourself.

1. Do you eat breakfast? (circle one)

Yes No

1 2

2. If you answered yes to question #1, how often do you eat breakfast?

Every day Often Sometimes Very Little

1 2 3 4

3. If you answered yes to question #1, when are you most likely to eat
breakfast?

Before School On Weekends Before a Test

Any Other Time? ____________________

4. For the following list, please put a check next to the item(s) that you
tend to eat/drink for breakfast. You may check as many that apply to you.
Also, please circle how often you tend to eat/drink the item(s) you check off.

Checklist

Very Often Often Sometimes Very Little

__bacon 1 2 3 4

__bagels 1 2 3 4

__bagels with 1 2 3 4

spread

__bisquits 1 2 3 4
__bisquits with 1 2 3 4

butter

__biscuits with 1 2 3 4

jelly

__cereal 1 2 3 4

__eggs 1 2 3 4

__fast food

breakfasts 1 2 3 4

__muffins 1 2 3 4

__pancakes 1 2 3 4

__pizza 1 2 3 4

__pop-tarts 1 2 3 4

__sandwiches 1 2 3 4

__sausage 1 2 3 4

__toast 1 2 3 4

__toast with 1 2 3 4

butter

__toast with 1 2 3 4

jelly

__waffles 1 2 3 4

__yogurt 1 2 3 4

__soda 1 2 3 4

__coffee 1 2 3 4

__milk 1 2 3 4

__juice 1 2 3 4