Having breakfast is an out-of-reach luxury for many children from disadvantaged families, some of whom go to school in the morning on an empty stomach four days a week, according to the findings of a survey released yesterday by a local charity.

The survey conducted by the Child Welfare League Foundation found that 40 percent of children from low-income families, socially-deprived families or other families in need do not have breakfast every day.

The survey results reveal that 17 percent of the disadvantaged children who responded to the survey have breakfast only every two days, while 10 percent of the group save their lunch at school for breakfast next day.

Those disadvantaged children who do eat breakfast often tend to have breakfast that is low in vegetables and fruit, such as one or two slices of toast or a bowl of rice with minced pork, the survey found.

The survey also found that 20 percent of the school children do not have dinner every day and that 9 percent get dinner only every two days. Ten percent of them said they save their school lunch for dinner in the evening.

Some 10 percent said they often feel hungry at night, so they drink water to stave off their hunger pangs.

Wang Yu-min, executive director of the foundation, said school children from disadvantaged families are also disadvantaged in terms of nutritional intake.

Even though the overall economic climate in Taiwan has begun to rebound, the disadvantaged families have not yet felt any of the benefits, and the children of these families are the direct victims, Wang said.

The survey was conducted February 25-March 3 by the foundation among 1,536 respondents aged between 9 and 12, including 304 from disadvantaged families.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 03/16/2010 page4)