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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why so many children go without breakfast

210 replies

Sunnydays999 · 19/08/2014 08:20

Iv seen these adverts Kellogs are doing - it made me wonder why the situations so bad ?
Now I totally get some children won't eat breakfast - totally different .but not to be able to afford it on a regular basis ? Breakfast has to be the cheapest meal of the day. Not the best but value bread for toast is penny's ?
If parents can't afford breakfast what's happening with tea

OP posts:
Sleepytea · 19/08/2014 08:28

I never had breakfast when I was a child, mainly because my mum didn't eat breakfast and didn't see it as an essential meal. At this time we were a chaotic household in poverty but I don't think the poverty was so much of an issue.

fabulousfour · 19/08/2014 08:30

Dunno, a slice of toast doesnt cost much.

housebox · 19/08/2014 08:31

I thought that too when I saw the add. I know that a lot of people are suffering with money at the moment but I have to say I do doubt that there are many people with children who could not afford a loaf of bread (80p for a value loaf with 20 odd slices) or cheap yoghurt and tinned fruit or value cornflakes.

I think that sadly it is probably down to chaotic households and lack of prioritisation of the child's needs.

dashoflime · 19/08/2014 08:34

I guess if your very skint, any help is good. So a free breakfast every school day would make a difference.

Rokenswife · 19/08/2014 08:34

When I first started teaching, we had a little boy in our year group who was diabetic. He was frequently sent to school with no breakfast (but mum could afford her fags and manicures) and we ended up having to feed him.

It's always the same children who come into school without breakfast and 99% of the time it is due to sheer laziness.

We are absolutely skint at the moment (I'm not teaching) and when I go to tesco, the first thing I do is put my son's food for the week into the trolley. Even if it's a £1.20 packet of value weetabix. Then DH and I eat food bought with the remaining money.

housebox · 19/08/2014 08:37

The trouble with the free breakfasts initiative is that although in the short term it is important the children get fed in the long term it is just exacerbating the problem. If people don't think they have to feed their children breakfast then they will stop doing it and it will become entrenched that they get their breakfast at school.

Surely a better long term initiative would be working with the families teaching about budgeting, nutrition and telling them how important breakfast is.

PickledPorcupine · 19/08/2014 08:37

We offer free breakfast to every child in my school and the parents don't even bring them for that so it's not the solution I'm afraid. So many of my class are really hungry by break time as they've had nothing all morning. I end up giving them food (which I often pay for out of my own money because I feel so bad for them).

housebox · 19/08/2014 08:39

It's so sad that it seems acceptable for people not to give their kids breakfast. I just can't imagine the mentality that thinks that's an ok thing to do.

ILovePud · 19/08/2014 08:41

I agree that it suggests a lack of prioritisation of the children's needs, I think it's an issue of neglect rather than poverty. I think the TV campaign is about Kellogs PR rather than the best solution to the problem.

Preciousbane · 19/08/2014 08:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

housebox · 19/08/2014 08:45

Actually the campaign made me feel slightly conflicted as on the one hand I felt really sorry for the children and wanted to feed them and on the other I felt angry that essentially I was being asked to make up for the fact that other parents can't be arsed to feed their own children.

ChickenMe · 19/08/2014 08:46

If it's a primary school aged kid then it's a poor show that they aren't being given breakfast. I don't think anything Kellogg's are coming up with is particularly healthy but it's probably better than nothing.
At secondary school I hated breakfast and was pretty vile, buying crisps at the corner shop on the way in!!

Original poster
Sunnydays999 · 19/08/2014 08:48

Yes I think your right it's neglect over money issues - it's by far the cheapest meal .
I have days when I'm quite poorly ( long standing health issue ) i have cerial bars in and bananas for such situation.
It's by far the easiest meal .if there is no food in for breakfast are they going without tea? As that's far more of a hassle and costs more.
You can often get bread reduced for 11p at the end of the day .
I think the breakfast clubs are good but the route problem is still there- what happens in the six week hols?

OP posts:
Chunderella · 19/08/2014 08:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

divingoffthebalcony · 19/08/2014 08:50

Poverty. Neglect. Feckless parents. Sometimes a combination of all three.

housebox · 19/08/2014 08:51

chunderella but it's pretty poor if you can't get yourself together enough to open a banana or yoghurt pot or pour some cereal into a bowl and add some milk - it's not like kids are expecting eggs Benedict or a full fry up. I think you need to ask yourself if people can't even manage that should they be having children?

fabulousfour · 19/08/2014 08:52

I must admit my older daughter wont eat breakfast, shes 12. I struggle to get my next two daughters to eat it too.

Original poster
Sunnydays999 · 19/08/2014 08:55

Housebox i agree to some extent
To teachers - are questions asked when children are coming in having not eaten?

OP posts:
chubbyhez · 19/08/2014 08:56

Yes, because 'should you be having children' is such a useful thing to ask.

Original poster
Sunnydays999 · 19/08/2014 08:57

Fabulous four
That's different tho you are trying - you obviously have food in and are offering it

OP posts:
Original poster
Sunnydays999 · 19/08/2014 08:58

I think what should be arsed tho chunderella is are capable to care for your children- mine have sometimes eaten on the school run - but theyv eaten

OP posts:
Original poster
Sunnydays999 · 19/08/2014 08:59

Asked not arsed !!!

OP posts:
wfrances · 19/08/2014 08:59

i dont understand it either,
im guessing its either their skint,
adults have a fag and coffee and dont even think about it ,cause they dont eat it.
dont buy cereal and cant be bothered to make them toast(which take a little longer)
dont care!
or gets up late and never time for them to eat.
i think health visitors , adverts ects should promote the differences when a child has breakfast and when they dont.

Thenapoleonofcrime · 19/08/2014 09:00

I saw that ad and felt the same. I'm sure there are parents out there neglecting their children (for neglect it is not to feed breakfast) but 1 in 7? I don't think mass feeding of Kelloggs cereals is a good way to tackle this social crisis.

fabulous if your children don't feel hungry at breakfast I don't think they have to eat it, I often used to feel sick at this time of day. If you have offered it, that's enough (or I pop a bar or piece of fruit in my dd's bag for later if they haven't eaten).

But 1 in 7 fed by a commercial cereal manufacturer for free, something is seriously wrong in this scenario.

IsabellaofFrance · 19/08/2014 09:00

My 5yo doesnt like to eat breakfast in the mornings, its an eternal struggle.

However I see it as my job as a parent to make sure she has it by whatever means necessary.