Your mother probably told you breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and like many favourite old sayings, it contains far more than a grain of truth.
Eating a nutritious breakfast is important for everyone – but especially for children, as it can provide up to a third of their daily nutrient needs. It also improves your kids’ concentration, so their teachers will thank you too!
But 18% of children are coming to school hungry. There are a variety of reasons for this, including lack of time and a poor understanding of the health benefits – but many schoolkids don’t skip breakfast from choice. Each week over 100,000 New Zealand children (aged 5-14 years of age) skip breakfast at least once a week.
Join the club!
Sanitarium serves, supports and cares for others because we want to make a positive and lasting difference. In February 2009, Sanitarium and Fonterra partnered to provide a free breakfast of Weet-Bix and Anchor Milk to all New Zealand Schools. The NZ Government joined as a supporter in May 2013 which enabled the programme to be extended from two days per week to five and opened it up to all schools across Aotearoa.
The 2024 Akina Impact Report say KickStart Breakfast clubs:
- Enhances physical wellbeing for tamariki and rangatahi
- Fuels opportunities to achieve greater educational outcomes
- Strengthens connections, and builds belonging
- Has a societal benefit
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