Jureeporn Nounmusig. The contribution of breakfast to nutrient intakes of thai school-aged children : case study in basic education commission (BEC) area 3. Master's Degree(Nutrition). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2007.
The contribution of breakfast to nutrient intakes of thai school-aged children : case study in basic education commission (BEC) area 3
Abstract:
Breakfast has been described as the most important meal of the day, contributing
substantially to daily nutrient intake and energy needs, particularly for children. This
study aims to assess the contribution of breakfast to nutrient intakes and breakfast
eating patterns of school-aged children. A school-based dietary survey, using 3-days
food record, was carried out in 914 children who were studying in 15 primary schools
(grade 5th-6th) in Bangkok. The survey included a breakfast eating pattern
questionnaire, 3-d food records collected during the period November 2006-June
2007. Overall, 2.7% and 3.8% of the children skipped breakfast on weekdays and
weekends, respectively. On weekdays, 59.9% and 47.7% of children were skipping
breakfast because they were not hungry and did not have time or wake up late,
respectively. The regularity of breakfast consumption was associated with school size,
school administrative commission, parents’ education, transportation and place of
breakfast eaten. More than half of the children (58.4%) chose a single plate dish and
the most common choice was rice porridge (rice gruel cooked with soup); about 36.2%
chose rice with side dishes. Furthermore about 66.5% and 23.3% of children had
breakfast at home and at school, respectively. There was no difference in breakfast
eating patterns and places of breakfast eaten between sexes. Daily energy intakes
contributed about 74% RDA, whereas protein intake was about 113% RDA. Daily
intakes of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and calcium were not enough for requirement
(less than 67% RDA). Thiamine and riboflavin were reasonably good (more than
100% RDA). For breakfast, average energy intake was 351 kcal, which contributed
about 21% of RDA and accounted for 28.4% of daily energy intakes. In addition, only
21.6% of children received > 25 % RDA of energy from breakfast. For micronutrient,
breakfast contributed about one-third of daily intakes for vitamin A, thiamine,
riboflavin and calcium, and slightly less for vitamin C and dietary fiber. The results of
this research about breakfast consumption on health, academic and psychosocial
performance should be distributed, especially among school-aged children.