Saqib Rather
Srinagar, Oct 26: In many households, the morning meal is the first thing sacrificed to a crowded schedule. Children leave for school before the kitchen is ready, college students rush to lectures, office workers settle for tea, and older people may eat only when the rest of the family has finished its morning routine. What looks like a small adjustment can shape appetite, concentration and daily nutrition.
Skipping breakfast is not automatically a medical problem for every adult. But when it becomes a daily habit because of time pressure, poor appetite or lack of access to food, it deserves attention—particularly for children and adolescents, whose nutritional needs differ from those of adults.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says children who eat breakfast tend to show better attention and memory, and can perform better on some school tasks. Its guidance notes that “Studies show that breakfast positively affects school performance.” Children who skip breakfast may miss nutrients needed for learning and growth.
“Children need adequate nourishment to support both physical growth and learning. When breakfast is repeatedly missed, parents should look at the child’s overall food intake and daily routine rather than treating the issue as merely a matter of punctuality,” said, Dr Parvaiz Ahmad, a paediatrician.
The issue is not simply whether someone eats at 8 am, but whether the day’s food provides enough energy, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Tea alone does not provide the range of nutrients found in a balanced meal. A breakfast built around eggs, milk or yoghurt, whole grains, fruit, beans or other locally available foods can offer a more substantial start.
“Breakfast does not have to be elaborate or expensive. Even a simple combination of locally available foods can help people begin the day with a better range of nutrients,” said Rafiya Masood, a dietitian.
Skipping a meal may also change appetite later. Some people feel unusually hungry by midday and reach for convenient, highly processed snacks; others compensate with a large lunch. Research has linked irregular eating patterns with less favourable cardiometabolic health markers, although much of the evidence is observational and cannot prove that breakfast skipping itself causes disease.
The American Heart Association’s scientific statement on meal timing reports that “irregular eating patterns appear less favorable for achieving a healthy cardiometabolic profile.” For adults, evidence does not show that everyone must eat breakfast to control weight; overall diet quality and personal health needs matter.
“People should be cautious about turning breakfast into a universal rule for weight management. The more important considerations are the quality of the overall diet, the person’s nutritional needs and whether their eating pattern supports their health,” said, Imran Rashid, a nutrition professional
For some adults, an early meal is difficult because of shift work, medication effects, religious practices or simply a lack of morning hunger. Skipping breakfast once in a while is not, by itself, proof of poor health. The more useful questions are whether the person eats adequately over the day, feels well, and has a routine suited to their age and medical circumstances. Children’s needs, however, deserve particular attention because they are still growing.
Age and routine make a difference. Schoolchildren, adolescents, pregnant women, people taking medicines with food and older adults with reduced appetite have different needs. People with diabetes or other medical conditions should follow individual advice from their healthcare professional rather than adopt meal-timing rules from social media.
In Kashmir, winter mornings can make the routine harder. Darkness, cold weather, long commutes and early reporting times may leave little room to prepare or eat. Planning the night before—keeping boiled eggs, fruit, yoghurt, nuts or a simple whole-grain option ready—can make breakfast more practical.
“Small changes in preparation can make a busy morning easier. Keeping a few nutritious options ready the previous night may help families avoid relying only on tea or skipping food altogether,” said, Nuzhat Bhat, a local nutritionist.
Persistent appetite loss, unexplained weight loss, recurrent nausea or poor growth in children warrant medical assessment.
The goal is not to enforce one timetable on every household, but to notice when daily life leaves no room for basic nourishment. Breakfast cannot guarantee good health or academic success, but a balanced eating pattern helps meet nutritional needs. In a busy morning, the question is not whether breakfast is universally “the most important meal.” It is whether the first hours of the day begin with enough nourishment to support the person who has to live them.
