Picture this: You are preparing for an important exam. And you’ve worked hard for many days. On the morning of the exam, when you’re just about to leave for your school / college, you realize that there is nothing left in your kitchen to make breakfast with!
Sounds like a bummer, doesn’t it? Imagine how cranky and tired you’d feel while and after writing the exam. You’d probably regret the fact that you didn’t prepare food, well in advance.
According to a recent study conducted by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, 1 million children go to school, hungry. Not because they are fussy eaters, but because they are a part of the 1.3 million households in Canada who suffer from food insecurity.
So, this brings up the question: How does skipping breakfast affect a child’s performance at school? And how to help children with anxiety due to hunger?
Let us take a close look at the situation.
(Please note: All data in this blog has been referenced from the above-mentioned study conducted by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario)
What Children Miss Out On, Whe They Miss Breakfast
When children miss multiple meals during the day, they become vulnerable to risks associated with a lack of sufficient quality and quantities of food. This lack of nutrition can lead to incomplete physical and cognitive development.
The effects do not stop at the physical level. It also affects their psychological, cognitive, and behavioral growth.
And because these children come from low-income families, the nutritionally deficient foods they get access to could also stunt growth and lead many other health problems.
Mental health is also affected by food insecurity, as adolescents who do not have access to proper nutrition are more likely to have experienced chronic depression and / or suicidal thoughts.
So, it is quite evident that food insecurity is not only affecting their grades, but also their lives.
The direct corelation to a healthy childhood and nutritious food intake is obvious. Nutrition and medical studies have indicated that eating a healthy breakfast provides a major portion of daily caloric requirements.
According to the findings in the above studies, schools that offered a free breakfast before or during the first class, witnessed that 78% of the students who ate breakfast, at least thrice a week, were on track with their graduation plan, as compared with 61% of students who ate breakfast only on a few days.
Providing Thousands of Meals for over 30 Years
We, at the Children’s Breakfast Club, understand this! Which is why, for more than 30 years, we’ve been providing healthy meals to thousands of children in Southern Ontario. We know that if children get to start each day with a nutritious breakfast, they have a greater ability to learn.
Apart from healthy meals, we also strive to provide educational, cultural and recreational activities to youth, bringing out the best in them.
The Children’s Breakfast Club works with community partners to organize nutritious, & culturally relevant breakfast programs. As of today, we serve 5,000+ meals every week in more than 27 communities across Southern Ontario.
How Do I Help These Children?
So, if you’ve been having questions like: ‘how to help children’, ‘how to help children be confident’, or ‘how to help children in need’, then you’ve come to the right place (or blog)! By working together with the Children’s Breakfast Club, you can have a positive impact for many students in need. Join hands with us, either through volunteering activities & donations, as we provide the necessary resources and nutrients required by students to stay alert, healthy and active.
You can reach out to us on 437-836-6222 or info@breakfastclubs.ca.
Our experience tells us that, if given the right opportunities, students from low-income households can achieve wonders, and excel in life. All they need is the right nutrition, emotional support and educational opportunities, to thrive and be successful.
Nothing beats the feeling of helping someone build their future, and watching them reach for the stars. Believe us! We’ve been witnessing this for over 30 years!
Want to know more about us & how you can contribute? Click here!
Aman