Breakfast & Academic Performance

Children who eat a sound breakfast have demonstrated significantly higher test scores than children who do not eat a sound breakfast according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Nonetheless, there are millions of children who do not eat a sound breakfast, something that puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to academic performance, attendance, tardiness, and even classroom behavior. Many children do not eat a sound breakfast because they are from low income families. However, even those who are from families that are well off economically often skip breakfast. They do so because they prefer to sleep in instead of prepare breakfast or because there is a lack of breakfast food available in their house. Others skip breakfast because they rush to catch the bus in the morning or because they are diet conscious and think skipping breakfast is a good method of dieting. Studies conducted by the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston

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etter on an arithmetic test” (Shaw 1). While the majority of the research available in the literature validates the fact that eating a sound breakfast has positive results on health, behavior, and academic performance, there are some who argue differently. Some studies have been conducted that illustrate there are no deleterious effects on academic performance and cognitive ability from skipping breakfast “Studies by Dickie and Bender found that missing breakfast had no effect on performance in arithmetic or on short-term memory and attention-demanding tasks, and Craig found no effect of breakfast on mental performance” (Shaw 1). While such results are rare in the literature, it does appear that some researchers believe skipping breakfast does not have negative effects on cognitive functioning and/or academic performance. While some researchers and others may believe the above, the USDA and President Clinton are not among them. President Clinton recently sanctioned a Presidential initiative that allows the USDA to conduct a study to determine if free breakfasts offered to low-income students through a USDA program improves academic performance. Pilot projects will be conducted in selected school districts across the countr
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Approximate Word count = 1470
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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