More school kids 'skipping lunch'
There has been an increase in the number of schoolchildren skipping lunch, according to new research by the Schools Health Education Unit.Researchers questioned more than 83,000 children, aged ten to 15, about their dietary habits in 2010.
The results were then compared with a much larger number of children who had been questioned as far back as the 1980s.
The organisation found that one in seven youngsters do not eat lunch on any given day, with 14 and 15-year-old girls among the worst offenders.
Commenting on the findings, the School Food Trust warned that skipping lunch could affect children's health and classroom performance.
"Our research shows that children are far more able to concentrate and focus with their teachers after a healthy meal at lunchtime, and we hear from schools all the time about the impact of better food for children's behaviour at school," the trust said.
In addition, the report revealed that around one in four children eat crisps almost every day, while one in three have sweets on most days.
Youngsters with large quantities of crisps, sweets and fizzy drinks in their diet tend to be most likely to skip breakfast.
