(NC)—Would it surprise you to know that in Canada, more than one million children live below the poverty line defined by Statistics Canada? Or that 50 percent of all food bank users are children? Yet, poverty is not the only reason for inadequate nutrition. The fact is that Canada's children are going to school hungry regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic status. Statistics show that more than 40 percent of children don't eat breakfast on a daily basis.

But not having food to eat is just one part of the child nutrition issue in Canada. Recently, the focus on children's health and well-being has shifted to poor eating habits accompanied by inactive lifestyles and the overwhelming increase in childhood obesity. A recent article in the academic journal Appetites stated, "Children who replace proper breakfast with chocolate bars and carbonated drinks have the reaction levels of a 70 year old by the end of the morning." Poor nutrition affects all walks of life.

Kids go to school hungry for a variety of reasons. The time constraints of modern living often don't leave enough time for meals, particularly in the morning. Some children may not have time to eat because they have to wake up early for a long bus ride to school. For others, their parents may leave for work before they even wake up and so they grab a chocolate bar on the go thinking that is the way to start off their day. And some parents may have to compromise the quality or quantity of food because of financial concerns.

Research has shown that a child's behaviour, learning capacity, cognitive performance and school attendance are negatively impacted by inadequate nutrition. When a child's body has no food, their brain lacks the fuel necessary to start their day off on the right track, alert and ready to concentrate at school.

BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING is working to change the face of child nutrition in Canada. By supporting the funding of breakfast, lunch and snack programs in schools all across Canada, the Foundation has helped to provide more than 175 million nourishing meals to children since its inception in 1992. School-based nutrition programs provide all children with an opportunity to receive a nutritious meal in a supportive environment that encourages responsible behaviour and provides a forum for them to learn, to share and be nurtured.

For more information, visit www.breakfastforlearning.ca.

- News Canada