What is something important about which nearly

everybody is wrong? Is Breakfast a necessity?

Crux: The common belief is that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but my
research points to a different conclusion.

Introduction

Whenever I wake up late and am forced to rush out of my house, I always hear the
gentle words of my mom, “What about your breakfast?” I’m positive that she makes that
comment because of what she has come to know. Like me, she has been told that breakfast is
the most important meal of the day, and it shouldn’t be skipped no matter what. Even my
grandmother would shout the same phrase, which shows that this understanding of breakfast
goes back many generations. When researching this topic, I was taken back to the time of my
grandmother’s childhood, when she saw the Quaker Oats man tell the youth of the day that,
“Breakfast supercharges your day” and other messages that promote the first meal. I think
that the reader has already pinpointed the potential biases that exist here. The cereal company
is driven by profits and to make them, they must convince the public through whatever
means, whether it be a company-sponsored article or an ad that breakfast should never be
shunned. I’m going to argue that the common belief is that breakfast is the most important
meal of the day, but my research points to a different conclusion.

History of Breakfast

As with most things, morning meals have fallen in and out of vogue throughout
history. These changes in cuisine can be attributed to numerous things including societal
norms, food security, and even moral panics (looking at you Kellogg's). 1The first record of a
daily morning meal comes from Ancient Egypt. Peasants would consume beer, bread, and
onions in the morning before going to work. It was typically a heavy meal as they would not
eat again until the end of the day. During the Middle Ages, breakfast was not commonly
eaten, as it was seen as gluttonous by the Catholic Church. Typically only the old, sick,
children, and labourers ate breakfast as they did not have the strength to make it to the
typically large midday meal. The term breakfast originated in 15th-century Europe, but eating
in the morning didn't become a daily ritual in Europe until the 1600s. This is when many
people began going to work each day.

1
Oksman, Olga. “How Lobbyists Made Breakfast ‘the Most Important Meal of the Day’ | Life and Style | The
Guardian.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 28 Nov. 2016,
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/nov/28/breakfast-health-america-kellog-food-lifestyle.
Sugar Rush
The common belief is that sugar can be detrimental to young learners. Researchers
point to obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes as the main culprits of sugar. 2 Cereal
already pushes their daily allotment towards the recommended amount. According to the
American Heart Association, children and teens should consume less than 25 grams or 6
teaspoons of sugar daily. Cereal contains on average 19.8 grams of sugar in a serving3, which
is a deadly way to start the day. To lure children to eat their product, sugar is high on the list
of ingredients. It provides kids with a euphoric reaction. A sugar rush becomes part of the
child’s morning routine, but after a short while, a crash ensues. Children’s brains are in
overdrive because of all the sugar that has been consumed.

Profiling a young learner who consumes a couple of pop tarts in the morning, (a
pastry with a flavoured sugar centre with a frosted top.) Commercials claim it as a suitable
breakfast. After brushing his teeth, he hops on his bike and can power his way to school with
ease.

Upon reaching his school, he realises a classmate took his jacket hook and quickly he
becomes frantic leading the teacher to investigate. The teacher asked the kids to gather
around for a storybook time, but already our case study individual is feeling sugar withdrawal
and is non-attentive. His sugar rush allowed him to get to school on time, but after that, it was
an impairment.

Fasting
Busy bees in modern life are not able to have all three meals in a day, as they may be
forced to skip one or two. This can be defined as fasting. Fasting is abstaining from all or
some kind of food or drink. In my life, I sometimes skip meals, if I have no time and I think
that I can endure. However, just skipping meals isn’t the only way to fast. There are plenty of
other ways:

1. 24 Hours Fast
2. 36 Hour Fast
3. 5:2 Fasting
=> The type of diet that you eat regularly for 5 days you pick and fast on the other 2
days of the week
4. 16:8 Fasting
=> You eat 2-3 meals taking up time about 8 hours and spend the rest 16 hours of the
day fasting4

Fasting can sound like a reckless way to lose weight in a short period, but if an
individual finds a suitable solution to their problem, I say, "Go for it" as that may be
beneficial to them. Fasting may provide several health benefits, including weight loss,

2
Harvard. “Healthy Kids Sweet Enough without Added Sugars | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School
of Public Health.” The Nutrition Source, 23 Aug. 2016,
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/2016/08/23/aha-added-sugar-limits-children/.
3
Harvard. “Healthy Kids Sweet Enough without Added Sugars | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School
of Public Health.” The Nutrition Source, 23 Aug. 2016,
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/2016/08/23/aha-added-sugar-limits-children/.
4
Rachael. “8 Health Benefits of Fasting, Backed by Science.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 30 July 2018,
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fasting-benefits.
improved blood sugar control, and decreased inflammation. It might also offer protection
against certain conditions like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.5

Fasting has found its way into many cultures around the world. In Asian countries,
fasting can be used as a tool to deliver a person’s emotions for a specific religion such as
Buddhism. Monks believe in fasting for 1-3 years to focus on their worship. However, in
Western countries, fasting is used in Christianity. Often in the Bible, God's people fasted
immediately before a major victory, miracle, or answer to prayer. It prepared them for a
blessing! Moses fasted before he received the Ten Commandments. The Israelites fasted
before wars ended waiting for a miraculous victory to happen. Until they won a war they did
not eat or drink, so they could focus on their duties.

Companies that support breakfast

Cereal companies such as Kellogg’s make a top dollar by selling their breakfast meals
to the four corners of the world. They have found space on kitchen shelves in first-world
countries like America to third-world ones such as Bangladesh. The cereals are targeted at the
market they are trying to saturate. In America, surgery and bold are the name of the game.
While in Asia, the number of nutrients could draw in customers. Their advertisements paint a
clear picture of their playbook for a certain area and even period.

To add a little visualisation to the way cereal companies attempt to attract potential
customers can be summed up by explaining a typical ad trying to hit a certain demographic.
Star power such as using Andy Griffin to promote classic tastes spoke to his base namely
older people who followed his career. While another ad targeted children through characters
like Mighty Mouse showing that cereal gave him the power he needs to get through the day.6
When watching clips of old cereal commercials the message of “Go Power” was peppered
throughout. It implies cereals are the fuel needed to have a productive day.

A modern Kellogg's commercial in Korea didn’t focus on star power but rather
promoted the nutrients frosted cornflakes can provide. In Korea, parents are concerned about
academic performance, and having the right tools is a recipe for success.7 The commercials
emphasise the key nutrients that a child needs. Korea certainly is a country that is passionate
about studying. Korean cereal advertisements always remind mothers that their children need
enough energy and nutrition to study and keep their blood pumping. There is a reason why
Kellogg's angles its products the way it does. In 2022, the money Kellogg's earned from
cereal alone was close to $4.615 billion8. In the end, they're promoting a product that boosts
their sales without concern over the ramifications.

5
Rachael. “8 Health Benefits of Fasting, Backed by Science.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 30 July 2018,
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fasting-benefits.
6
Commercials, Classic. 52 Classic Retro Breakfast Cereal Commercials. YouTube, 21 Jan. 2014,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIS8kaVbniE
7
리원love. 김리원 (콘푸라이트광고) Cf. YouTube, 10 Apr. 2020,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWAYaLv65K0.
8
“Kellogg Gross Profit 2010-2022 | K | MacroTrends.” Macrotrends | The Long Term Perspective on Markets,
https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/K/kellogg/gross-profit#:~:text=Kellogg%20annual%20gross%20profit
%20for,a%207.9%25%20increase%20from%202019. Accessed 24 Apr. 2023.
Conclusion
The jury is still out on whether breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Companies such as Kellogg’s point to research (that they funded) that suggests breakfast
provides the building blocks for a productive day. Alternatively, other scientists point to its
sugar content, while different groups suggest a more holistic approach. Independent research
needs to be done to answer questions about breakfast. The research does point to
company-led campaigns that promote breakfast, even though it may be high in sugar.
Substituting those for healthy alternatives, such as a Turkish breakfast consisting of
vegetables, an egg, and a slice of melon may be the best alternative. Breakfast may continue
to evolve through awareness and the whole concept of it, may not resemble its current form
in the future. Companies don’t want to shake the boat and may attempt to squash competing
research such as this paper. People think that breakfast needs to be included in the three meals
of the day, but that remains an open question.

Bibliography

1. Commercials, Classic. 52 Classic Retro Breakfast Cereal Commercials. YouTube, 21

Jan. 2014, 52 Classic Retro Breakfast Cereal Commercials .
2. Harvard. “Healthy Kids Sweet Enough without Added Sugars | The Nutrition Source |
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.” The Nutrition Source, 23 Aug. 2016,
Healthy kids sweet enough without added sugars | The Nutrition Source.
3. Hrefna. “Breakfast Cereals: Healthy or Unhealthy?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 13
Mar. 2019, Breakfast Cereals: Healthy or Unhealthy?
4. “Kellogg Gross Profit 2010-2022 | K | MacroTrends.” Macrotrends | The Long Term
Perspective on Markets, Kellogg Gross Profit 2010-2023 | K | MacroTrends
5. Accessed 24 Apr. 2023.Oksman, Olga. “How Lobbyists Made Breakfast ‘the Most
Important Meal of the Day’ | Life and Style | The Guardian.” The Guardian, The
Guardian, 28 Nov. 2016, How lobbyists made breakfast 'the most important meal of
the day' | Life and style | The Guardian.
6. Rachael. “8 Health Benefits of Fasting, Backed by Science.” Healthline, Healthline
Media, 30 July 2018, 8 Health Benefits of Fasting, Backed by Science.
7. 리원love. 김리원 (콘푸라이트광고) Cf. YouTube, 10 Apr. 2020,
김리원 (콘푸라이트광고) cf