Breakfast Intake Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 2015-2018
Breakfast Intake Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 2015-2018
Breakfast Intake Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 2015-2018
aged 2–5 years consumed breakfast, compared with 86.7% of children aged 6–11 years, and less
than three-quarters of adolescents (72.9%) aged 12–19 years. The same pattern was observed in
both boys and girls. No differences were observed by sex for any age group.
Among those aged 2–5 years, a lower percentage of non-Hispanic black children (91.0%)
consumed breakfast, compared with non-Hispanic white (98.0%) and non-Hispanic Asian
(97.8%) children. The observed differences between Hispanic children (93.8%) and other race
and Hispanic-origin groups of the same age group was not significant. A similar pattern was
observed for adolescents aged 12–19 years.
Figure 2. Percentage of children and adolescents aged 2–19 years consuming breakfast on a given day, by age and race
or Hispanic origin: United States, 2015–2018
60
Percent
40
20
0
All 2–5 6–11 12–19
Age group (years)
NOTES: Percentages are based on reporting “breakfast” or “desayuno” as the eating occasion for a food or beverage during the in-person 24-hour dietary recall.
Access data table for Figure 2 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db386-tables-508.pdf#2.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2018.
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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 386 ■ October 2020
Among those aged 6–11 years, fewer non-Hispanic black children (84.8%) consumed breakfast,
compared with non-Hispanic Asian children (93.7%). In addition, fewer Hispanic children
(82.6%) consumed breakfast compared with non-Hispanic white (88.4%) and non-Hispanic
Asian children.
A decreasing trend in breakfast consumption with age was observed in all race and Hispanic-
origin groups.
A decreasing trend in breakfast consumption with age was observed in all income groups. Among
the lowest income group, the percentage consuming breakfast decreased with age from 93.4% of
children aged 2–5 years to 67.1% of adolescents aged 12–19 years, among children in families
Figure 3. Percentage of children and adolescents aged 2–19 years consuming breakfast on a given day, by age and
income: United States, 2015–2018
60
Percent
40
20
0
All 2–5 6–11 12–19
Age group (years)
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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 386 ■ October 2020
with incomes of 100% to less than 200% of FPL, 94.5% to 71.0%, among families with incomes
between 200% to less than 400% of FPL, 97.2% to 68.9%, and in the highest income group (at or
above 400% of FPL), from 99.0% to 80.8%.
Which foods and beverages were most consumed for breakfast on a given
day by children and adolescents in 2015–2018?
The top five foods and beverages reported for breakfast varied slightly by age (Figure 4). Milk,
cereal, and water were reported by all age groups. The remaining top five foods were pancakes,
waffles, and French toast (15.5%) and eggs (14.6%), reported by children aged 2–5 years; 100%
juice (15.3%) and pancakes (12.4%), reported by those aged 6–11 years; and 100% juice (8.9%)
and eggs (8.8%), reported by adolescents.
Water was reported by approximately 20% of children and adolescents in the three age groups
who reported consuming breakfast (19.2% of children aged 2–5 years; 19.5% of children aged
6–11 years; and 19.5% of adolescents aged 12–19).
Milk was reported for breakfast by children and adolescents in the three age groups: 59.7% of
children aged 2–5 years, 47.3% of those aged 6–11 years, and 31.5% of adolescents aged 12–19.
Children and adolescents in all age groups reported consuming ready-to-eat cereal higher in sugar
for breakfast: 26.8% of children aged 2–5 years, 26.1% of those aged 6–11 years, and 17.3% of
adolescents aged 12–19.
Figure 4. Most consumed foods at breakfast on a given day among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years, by age:
United States, 2015–2018
2–5 years
Milk 59.7
Ready-to-eat cereal, higher sugar 26.8
Water 19.2
Pancakes, waffles, French toast 15.5
Eggs and omelets 14.6
6–11 years
Milk 47.3
Ready-to-eat cereal, higher sugar 26.1
Water 19.5
100% juice 15.3
Pancakes, waffles, French toast 12.4
12–19 years
Milk 31.5
Water 19.5
Ready-to-eat cereal, higher sugar 17.3
100% juice 8.9
Eggs and omelets 8.8
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Percent
NOTES: Percentages are based on reporting “breakfast” or “desayuno” as the eating occasion for a food or beverage during the in-person 24-hour dietary recall
and on the What We Eat in America food categories. Access data table for Figure 4 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db386-tables-508.pdf#4.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2018.
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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 386 ■ October 2020
Figure 5. Trends in breakfast intake on a given day among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years: United States,
2009–2010 through 2017–2018
100
2–5
6–11
All
80
12–19
Percent
60
0
2009–2010 2011–2012 2013–2014 2015–2016 2017–2018
Survey years
NOTES: Percentages are based on reporting “breakfast” or “desayuno” as the eating occasion for a food or beverage during the in-person 24-hour dietary recall.
Access data table for Figure 5 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db386-tables-508.pdf#5.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2018.
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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 386 ■ October 2020
Summary
In 2015–2018, 82.4% of children and adolescents reported consuming breakfast. Breakfast
consumption was generally lower among non-Hispanic black children and adolescents. An
increase in breakfast consumption was observed as family income increased. Among children and
adolescents who reported eating breakfast, milk was the most reported breakfast food or beverage
among all age groups; however, consumption declined with age. Approximately 20% of children
and adolescents in each age group reported drinking water for breakfast. No change was observed
in the percentage of children and adolescents consuming breakfast on a given day over the decade
from 2009–2010 to 2017–2018. The results from this brief demonstrate that approximately 20%
of children and adolescents did not report eating breakfast on a given day.
Definitions
Breakfast consumers: Children and adolescents (or their proxies) who reported “breakfast”
or “desayuno” as the eating occasion for a food or beverage during the in-person 24-hour
dietary recall.
Food categories: Foods and beverages were grouped using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
What We Eat in America Food Categories (2). All foods or beverages reported for breakfast were
included in this analysis.
Milk: Includes flavored varieties, dairy milk substitutes (such as soy or almond milks), and milk
consumed as part of a combination food (e.g., milk added to cereal).
Ready-to-eat cereal, higher sugar: Includes higher sugar ready-to-eat cereal, greater than
21.2g/100g (2).
Pancakes, waffles, French toast: Includes pancakes, waffles, and French toast.
100% juice: Includes citrus juice, apple juice, other fruit juice, and vegetable juice.
Federal poverty level (FPL): Levels are based on the income to poverty ratio, a measure of the
annual total family income divided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
poverty guidelines, after accounting for inflation and family size (3).
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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 386 ■ October 2020
aged 6–11 years, the recall was assisted by a proxy, and for adolescents aged 12–19 the recall
was self-reported. Limitations associated with 24-hour recalls, such as misreporting, have been
described (4). Despite these limitations, dietary recall data have utility in describing population
level estimates (5,6).
Day 1 dietary weights were used to account for differential probabilities of selection,
nonresponse, and noncoverage. Differences between groups were tested using a univariate
t statistic. Test for linear trends by age and over time were evaluated using orthogonal
polynomials. The significance level for statistical testing was set at p < 0.05. All differences
reported are statistically significant unless otherwise indicated. Data management and statistical
analyses were conducted using SAS System for Windows version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary,
N.C.) and SUDAAN version 11.0 (RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.).
References
1. American Academy of Pediatrics HealthyChildren.org. Available from: https://www.
healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Breakfast-for-Learning.aspx.
4. Subar AF, Freedman LS, Tooze JA, Kirkpatrick SI, Boushey C, Neuhouser ML, et al.
Addressing current criticism regarding the value of self-report dietary data. J Nutr 145(12):2639–
45. 2015.
6. Hébert JR, Hurley TG, Steck SE, Miller DR, Tabung FK, Peterson KE, et al. Considering the
value of dietary assessment data in informing nutrition-related health policy. Adv Nutr 5(4):447–
55. 2014.
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Keywords: meals • youth • National Health and Nutrition Examination Suggested citation
Survey (NHANES) Terry AL, Wambogo E, Ansai N,
Ahluwalia N. Breakfast intake among
children and adolescents: United States,
2015–2018. NCHS Data Brief, no 386.
Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health
Statistics. 2020.
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