EU Breakfast
The Power of Breakfast at Knockconan NS (Press Release)
(Check out http://www.emyvale.net/knockconan%20ns%20breakfast.html for photos)
Last Friday was a special day for pupils of Knockconan NS with their first breakfast in school. Every pupil was treated to breakfast thanks to a grant from Kelloggs. Parents were also invited to the event which took place in the school hall. The aim is to promote breakfast as the most important meal of the day and an important one for children at school. A recent national survey published last week showed that 22 per cent of children are hungry at school and cannot concentrate fully.
Earlier in the year Breakfast was the theme of one of the many science projects children worked on for their Science Fair. Ernesta Lauriaskyte (6th class) and Kian Mc Geough (4th class) led this project which included a survey on breakfasts. As part of their work on their EU “Bluestar” project children have also learned about breakfasts in countries across the Eurozone.
Ernresta and Kian were joined in their brief presentations before breakfast by Catherine Finn and Mia O’Reilly.
Ernesta and Catherine explained the importance of a proper breakfast: Ernesta said, “When you start with a nutritious and balanced breakfast, you’re refuelling your body and brain, kick-starting your metabolism and getting the energy you need to embrace the morning. Yet while many of us recognise the importance of breakfast and look for ways to make time for it in our daily routines, one in five of us skip breakfast every day.” Catherine added “Breakfast literally means “breaking the fast” after a night's sleep. Being the first meal of the day, it is also the most important. Most people do not eat for up to 12 hours between the time of their evening meal and breakfast on the following day – during this time energy levels fall. The first meal of the day is the most important because it supplies the body and brain with the necessary nutrients after a night's sleep and energy for the morning ahead. Breakfast helps to improve concentration at school. Research shows that children who skip breakfast
are not as efficient in the selection of critical information in problem solving as those who eat breakfast.”
Mia O’Reilly followed with an amusing poem about breakfast and Kian Mc Geough led Grace before meals before everyone tucked into their cereal followed by a small fry. The school would like to thank Patricia Feely for all her help with this project and with the schools health promotion efforts this year. Thanks also to Monica Mc Rory and Gwen Rice from the HSE for their support with the Healthy Eating Policy and Health Promoting Schools work and of course to Kelloggs for their generous sponsorship which will allow repeat events in the next school year.
ENDS
(Check out http://www.emyvale.net/knockconan%20ns%20breakfast.html for photos)
Last Friday was a special day for pupils of Knockconan NS with their first breakfast in school. Every pupil was treated to breakfast thanks to a grant from Kelloggs. Parents were also invited to the event which took place in the school hall. The aim is to promote breakfast as the most important meal of the day and an important one for children at school. A recent national survey published last week showed that 22 per cent of children are hungry at school and cannot concentrate fully.
Earlier in the year Breakfast was the theme of one of the many science projects children worked on for their Science Fair. Ernesta Lauriaskyte (6th class) and Kian Mc Geough (4th class) led this project which included a survey on breakfasts. As part of their work on their EU “Bluestar” project children have also learned about breakfasts in countries across the Eurozone.
Ernresta and Kian were joined in their brief presentations before breakfast by Catherine Finn and Mia O’Reilly.
Ernesta and Catherine explained the importance of a proper breakfast: Ernesta said, “When you start with a nutritious and balanced breakfast, you’re refuelling your body and brain, kick-starting your metabolism and getting the energy you need to embrace the morning. Yet while many of us recognise the importance of breakfast and look for ways to make time for it in our daily routines, one in five of us skip breakfast every day.” Catherine added “Breakfast literally means “breaking the fast” after a night's sleep. Being the first meal of the day, it is also the most important. Most people do not eat for up to 12 hours between the time of their evening meal and breakfast on the following day – during this time energy levels fall. The first meal of the day is the most important because it supplies the body and brain with the necessary nutrients after a night's sleep and energy for the morning ahead. Breakfast helps to improve concentration at school. Research shows that children who skip breakfast
are not as efficient in the selection of critical information in problem solving as those who eat breakfast.”
Mia O’Reilly followed with an amusing poem about breakfast and Kian Mc Geough led Grace before meals before everyone tucked into their cereal followed by a small fry. The school would like to thank Patricia Feely for all her help with this project and with the schools health promotion efforts this year. Thanks also to Monica Mc Rory and Gwen Rice from the HSE for their support with the Healthy Eating Policy and Health Promoting Schools work and of course to Kelloggs for their generous sponsorship which will allow repeat events in the next school year.
ENDS
Breakfasts in Europe
Traditional UK or Irish breakfasts are possibly among the heaviest in Europe often consisting of a fried egg, bacon, beans and toast (sausages sometimes provide an alternative to bacon). Breakfast cereals now tend to be the breakfast of choice for both children and adults in
In the Germanic countries breakfast is typically muesli consumed with fruit, although bread with cheese spreads or cold meats such as salami or ham is also a common alternative the UK and Ireland. Breakfast in Northern Europe is usually a savoury affair. Typically it comprises bread and butter with cheese or sliced meat such as ham. Muesli and yogurt, like in Germany, is another breakfast option often consumed.
The traditional French breakfast (or the so-called 'continental breakfast') is either consumed with bread (baguette), butter and jam or a croissant
or 'pain au chocolat'. Breakfast in Belgium and Luxembourg resembles that of France although children in these countries tend to prefer chocolate spread on their bread rather than jam
The Italian breakfast tends to be small. Some Italians eat dry biscuits while others only drink a cappuccino. Because of this Italians usually have a snack between 10am and 11am. Lots of Italians eat breakfast at the “bar” on their way to work. In these instances their breakfast more resembles the typical French one with a croissant.
In the morning, Spanish tend to eat toast with butter and jam or with olive oil drizzled over it and/or crushed raw tomatoes. The second most popular breakfast in Spain is biscuits with a drink.
In Greece and Cyprus people tend to eat a mixture of sweet and savoury foods for breakfast. In addition to a breakfast of Greek yogurt and honey with bread, a Tyropita (or spanakopita), made with layers of buttered phyllo pastry and filled with a cheese-egg mixture, is also a common choice. It is also popular to eat feta cheese, black olives, cucumber and tomato.
In the Germanic countries breakfast is typically muesli consumed with fruit, although bread with cheese spreads or cold meats such as salami or ham is also a common alternative the UK and Ireland. Breakfast in Northern Europe is usually a savoury affair. Typically it comprises bread and butter with cheese or sliced meat such as ham. Muesli and yogurt, like in Germany, is another breakfast option often consumed.
The traditional French breakfast (or the so-called 'continental breakfast') is either consumed with bread (baguette), butter and jam or a croissant
or 'pain au chocolat'. Breakfast in Belgium and Luxembourg resembles that of France although children in these countries tend to prefer chocolate spread on their bread rather than jam
The Italian breakfast tends to be small. Some Italians eat dry biscuits while others only drink a cappuccino. Because of this Italians usually have a snack between 10am and 11am. Lots of Italians eat breakfast at the “bar” on their way to work. In these instances their breakfast more resembles the typical French one with a croissant.
In the morning, Spanish tend to eat toast with butter and jam or with olive oil drizzled over it and/or crushed raw tomatoes. The second most popular breakfast in Spain is biscuits with a drink.
In Greece and Cyprus people tend to eat a mixture of sweet and savoury foods for breakfast. In addition to a breakfast of Greek yogurt and honey with bread, a Tyropita (or spanakopita), made with layers of buttered phyllo pastry and filled with a cheese-egg mixture, is also a common choice. It is also popular to eat feta cheese, black olives, cucumber and tomato.