our out of ten teenagers are regularly skipping breakfast and missing out on vital daily nutrients, a new report reveals today . Research released by the Breakfast Cereal Information Service shows that, although the majority of UK adults understand the importance of breakfast for improving physical and mental performance (65%) and believe it to be the most important meal of the day (60%), 40% of teenagers are still ignoring the benefits.
When they do eat breakfast, four out of five (81%) teenagers opt for a bowl of breakfast cereal, which is also the way the majority of teenagers consume milk (75%). However parents report that a number of factors are consistently preventing their teenage children from eating breakfast in the morning, with:
* Just over half of teenagers claiming not to be hungry (51%)
* Almost half getting out of bed too late (49%)
* More than two in five complaining that they can't be bothered to eat breakfast (44%)
As a result, experts warn that teenagers are missing out on important nutrients. Dietary fibre helps maintain a healthy digestive tract and may help protect against cancer of the colon, reduce the risk of becoming overweight and developing type 2 diabetes. Cereal fibre has important water retaining properties that help prevent constipation and keep the large intestines healthy. It also helps to promote the feeling of fullness after a meal and may therefore help reduce cravings for snack foods and aid weight control. The fibre from cereals containing oats also helps lower blood cholesterol levels. Breakfast cereals play an important role in providing dietary fibre and the richest sources are bran, wholegrain and oat-based cereals.
Breakfast with cereal
