Skipping midday meal results in lack of nutrients

Are you a regular lunch skipper? If yes, then you are in trouble. The Nestlé Research Center claims that skipping lunch will miss some key nutrients that are essential for growth and development including Calcium and Fiber.

According to new analysis of data from the 2009-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) that evaluated eating patterns of 3,647 children ages 4-13 years, 13 percent of younger children and 17 percent of 9-13 year olds skip lunch on a given day. Even the data pointed that for some children, the lunch meal was primarily responsible for the higher essential nutrient intakes of vitamin D, potassium and magnesium, as well as a nutrient of concern, sodium.

“This study highlights an opportunity for both government and the food industry to develop new strategies to encourage children and adolescents to consume a healthy lunch,” said Kevin Mathias, a PhD and scientist at the Nestlé Center who also authored the study.

The findings were presented at the American Society of Nutrition conference.

So, it is good to be on good diet without skipping. In case of children, parents must take care of children health to prevent negative effect of lacking essential nutrients.

AW: Lizitha