Parents have received a warning after a study revealed 72 per cent of teenagers have headed into an exam hall on just an energy drink or a packet of crisps or sweets.
The study was conducted by by Love Fresh Berries, who are encouraging parents to ensure their children are eating enough nutritious food.
The worrying numbers are causing concern over the effect of poor eating habits on their offspring’s exam results this year.
Of those surveyed, 21 per cent are convinced their teenager lacks the concentration needed to do their best work in an exam, due to a poor and unhealthy diet.
A further 74 per cent agree their child would achieve better school results if they had a healthier lifestyle.
Around 72 per cent of students are heading into exam halls after eating just a packet of crisps, sweets or having an energy drink
Teachers have shared their experiences of poorly provided lunches on social media.
According to one in Halifax, West Yorkshire, a primary school student brought in a pork pie and a can of shandy in for their lunchtime refreshment, telling the teacher that was ‘all there was in the fridge’.
Another student travelled in with a can of Red Bull and a packet of Monster Munch crisps.
When the mother was questioned, she responded by saying: ‘He’d had a late night on his Xbox and seemed like he needed a pick-me-up.’
One teacher in Leeds told of a child who had arrived with a packet of ginger biscuits after their mother had been ‘too tired’ to visit the shops.
Another pupil was sent to school with the leftovers of a McDonald’s Happy Meal, which contained a cold burger and fries, after the child’s grandmother explained it had been bought the day before however the student didn’t want it so therefore it ‘was a shame to go to waste’.
A teacher based in a school in Manchester found a primary school child of the age of eight who had brought in a can of dark fruits cider, believing it was a soft drink.
One teacher described being close to tears after a child explained he’d had cereal with water for his breakfast, as his ‘mum needed the milk for her coffee.’
Many primary schools up and down the country monitor children’s lunches, with items deemed as ‘unhealthy’ often discarded on the child’s behalf.
This theme seems to be less prevalent in children attending secondary school.
As much as nine in ten parents are worried about their teenager’s diet in general, with 56 per cent often skipping breakfast.
Over a quarter (27 per cent) claim their child will only eat junk food instead of proper meals, while 24 percent say their child regularly eats crisps or sweets for breakfast.
Dr Emma Derbyshire, Public Health Nutritionist and advisor to Love Fresh Berries said: ‘It is terrifying how many teens are either skipping or not eating a proper breakfast.
‘During exam season the value of eating well cannot be underestimated. Science shows that eating the right foods and being adequately hydrated can “fuel” your brain.’
Yet, 78 per cent of well-intentioned parents lay out healthy snacks like berries or vegetable sticks at home, however 56 per cent say their teen will only eat them if there’s nothing else in the house.
Parents of teenagers are also finding the wrappers of crisps, sweets and take-aways discarded under their beds.
Around 18 per cent of teens never eat their five-a-day, while 40 per cent hardly ever do, according to their parents.
A campaign was launched by the government in January this year to help parents improve their children’s diet.
Separate data from Netmums also revealed that 60 per cent of parents say they are giving their children more sugary or fatty snacks than before the pandemic.
A 250ml can of Redbull contains 80mg of caffeine, the recommended daily limit in the UK is approximately 300mg
One pupil was sent to school with the leftovers of a McDonald’s Happy Meal, which contained a cold burger and fries, after the child’s grandmother said it ‘was a shame to go to waste’
As part of the move to help get children to eat healthier, the NHS launched its Food Scanner App, which suggests healthier alternatives to foods when the barcode is scanned.
British Nutrition Foundation scientist Helena Gibson-Moore told MailOnline that it was important for parents ensure teenagers are eating healthily during this period.
‘Having a healthy breakfast can help teens concentrate through a morning exam. Quick and easy breakfasts include wholewheat toast with peanut butter or chopped banana or porridge topped with fresh or dried fruit.’
‘Teens may look to energy drinks for an energy boost, but these are not recommended. This is because energy drinks typically contain high levels of caffeine and can contain free sugars.
‘Daily use of energy drinks has been linked to headaches, sleeping problems, irritation and tiredness. Extremely high consumption of caffeine has also been associated with heart complications and can have a harmful effect on the nervous system.’
One Mumsnet user, mybestchildismycat, posted on Monday saying that her son ‘secret polished off’ any sweets or cakes that she left in the house.
She wrote: ‘We cannot have any kind of sweet food in the house at all without hiding it away, or he will simply eat it all in one sitting’.
‘I bought a pack of Club biscuits and left them out by accident, the following morning I found the wrappers for every single one of them under his bed.’
