Comparison of attitudes towards breakfast by Turkish fourth graders living in Turkey and Germany

The purpose of this article is to identify and compare Turkish fourth graders attitudes towards breakfast living in Turkey and Germany. A sample group of 882 Turkish students enrolled in fourth grade in Hamburg (Germany, N=422) and Konya (Turkey, N=460) were surveyed. Independent t-tests, χ2 test and Pearson product–moment correlations were used. More students living in Turkey had breakfast and had enough time before going to school (P<0.01). Students living in Turkey reported that eating breakfast affected them positively (P<0.01). Students living in Germany reported that eating breakfast made them feel tired (P<0.01). The consumption of breakfast cereal (P<0.05) and fruit juice (P<0.01) that had not been consumed widely in Turkey increased in Germany. Students who eat breakfast also eat lunch (r=0.296 and −0.236, P<0.01, students living in Turkey and Turkish students living in Germany, respectively). Nutrition education programs in primary schools may change Student's attitudes about breakfast and offering a breakfast programme in schools may greatly improve breakfast consumption rates.