Breakfast Consumption and Students Academic Performance among Grade 12

Students of UMTC

This chapter shows the related theories and significance of breakfast consumption and

students’ educational productivity in classroom learning environment. These probing

studies will support the study further and create structure to the research.

Review Related Literature

Breakfast Consumption

Hasz and Lamport (2012) stated that breakfast has been studied as the first meal

of the day for its effect on health and academic issues efficiency. In addition to simply

satisfying hunger, breakfasts have been shown to enhance both the health and

cognitive abilities of people who eat meal, especially when it is composed of high-quality

nutrients.

As stated by Adolphus, K., Lawton, C. L., & Dye, L. (2013), breakfast

consumption is correlated with favorable outcomes in terms of diet efficiency,

micronutrient intake, weight status and lifestyle factors. Breakfast has been reported to

have a positive effect on children's learning in terms of attitudes, cognitive and school

performance. However, these claims are primarily based on research that shows the

acute impact of breakfast on cognitive efficiency. Breakfast consumption is also

associated with other healthy lifestyle factors. Children who do not consume breakfast

are more likely to be less physically active and have a lower cardio respiratory fitness

level (Sandercock et al., 2010).

 According to Deshmukh-Taskar et al., (2010), that breakfast is generally

regarded as the most essential meal of the day. Children who typically eat breakfast are

more likely to have beneficial nutrient intakes, like higher dietary fiber intakes, fewer

carbohydrates, and lower overall fat and cholesterol. Breakfast also makes a important

contribution to the regular consumption of micronutrients (Balvin Frantzen et al., 2013).

The argument that breakfast is the most important meal of the day has a wealth of solid

research behind it. Breakfast is consistently recommended as a vital aspect of eating

regimens as it is associated with a healthy intake of carbohydrates, BMI and lifestyle.

Several studies have demonstrated the value of getting breakfast for the body 's results.

The Department of Agriculture in the United States of America has reported that

breakfast meals should contribute to at least 10% of the RDA for energy and should

provide food from at least two of the following food groups: grains, low-fat dairy

products, fruits , vegetables, lean meats, and finally nuts, seeds , and legumes (Lauren

A. Hasz, Mark A. LaM.P., 2012). In addition, breakfast can be described as the first

meal eaten throughout the day before daily activities and typically contributes to about

20 percent-30% of total daily energy needs (Tanya Zilberter, Eugene Yuri Zilberter,

2014). With so much knowledge yet unclear about the precise relations between

breakfast foods and not only should school success, policy-makers, educators and

parents embrace daily breakfasts consumption but also seeking to change the food

intake of students based on the latest research available in the area.

As stated by Mullan & Singh (2010), breakfast consumption is frequently linked to

serious health-related behaviors. For example, breakfast skipping is linked to obesity

and breakfast eating is also associated with cognitive, behavioral, and affective
components. Breakfasts have been shown to enhance both the health and cognitive

abilities of people who eat meal, especially when it is composed of premium nutrients.

Since it is associated with a healthy intake of nutrients, BMI and lifestyle, breakfast is

consistently recommended as a vital aspect of eating regimens.

Breakfast Consumption and Students Educational Productivity in Classroom Learning

Environment

According to Taha and Rashed (2017), school-day breakfast consumption is of

great significance for academic success, considering that it is eaten before school and

is thus likely to have an immediate impact on subsequent school lessons experience.

For example, if breakfast is eaten on a specific school morning, this can result in a

short-term increase in cognitive output on the morning of consumption. Previous

research indicate that the intake of breakfast has a moderate short-term beneficial

impact on cognitive performance measured at 4 h post-ingestion in children and

adolescents. If the cognitive state of the child improves, it is likely that they will continue

to learn more through lessons that will grow over time in order to acquire the information

and skills required in the areas of the curriculum. Therefore, with regular consumption,

the positive acute effects of school-day breakfast intake on cognitive performance

translate into cumulative effects on academic performance in the longer term .

As examined by Stea and Torstveit (2014), the impact of a daily meal schedule

on students' academic performance found that regular breakfast consumption as well as

increased intake of healthy foods are linked to increased learning outcomes and high

school achievements, particularly in female students.

 According to Basch (2011), skipping breakfast is highly and disproportionately

prevalent among school‐aged urban minority youth, has a negative impact on academic

achievement by adversely affecting cognition and absenteeism, and effective practices

are available for schools to address this problem. Despite wide availability, the majority

of American youth do not participate in School Breakfast Programs. High‐quality

universal breakfast programs that allow students to eat breakfast in the classroom are

especially needed for youth who are not likely to get good nutrition the rest of the day.

Also, many safe lifestyle factors also link breakfast consumption. Children who do not

eat breakfast appear to be less physically active and have poorer cardiovascular health

(Sandercock et al., 2010).

According to Boschloo et al., (2012), more on-task activity in the classroom can

be correlated with academic performance improvements supported by the positive

correlation between normal breakfast intake and academic success. In addition, a

change in the behavior in the classroom has the ability to minimize disturbance and

create a more positive learning environment.

Giovannini et al. ( 2010) perhaps summarizes best, breakfast has both an effect

on health and in children's academic ability. The fact that this idea was accepted so

quickly can be viewed in the common context of school breakfast programs in the USA

and elsewhere. Several studies have recently confirmed that breakfast intake is related

to certain aspects of brain function, such as neural network activity and cognitive

performance. Given that breakfast is essential for adolescent brain growth, a high-

quality breakfast is highly recommended. Overall consistency of the breakfast does

seem to make a difference in student learning skills and, as such, breakfast plays a key

role in the future of students.