In an ideal world, nobody would ever be allowed to go hungry.

This is not an ideal world however.

That’s why it’s sad to hear the news that eighty-two per cent of teachers in Britain see teenagers frequently coming to school hungry.

Even more disheartening is that four in 10 teachers claim some parents simply can’t afford to give their teens breakfast before class.

Kellogg’s, the food manufacturer, was the one who conducted this study.

Everyone should have heard the saying at one time or another that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

That’s because food is fuel for your body. It helps you be productive through the day and for students, helps them stay awake during classes and learn.

Ground-breaking stuff, I know.

This message, however seems to have not made it to today’s youth.

Nearly half of the 500 UK secondary teachers’ surveyed claimed kids aged 11 to 16 failed to understand why they needed breakfast to help them learn.

A lack of availability to regular breakfast is one thing (albeit a distressing thing), but not knowing what makes the body function is another.

The study found teachers battling with hungry teenagers in the classroom were often left dealing with kids unable to concentrate (73%), an increase in misbehaviour (28%) or grumpiness from class members (34%) in the mornings.

Not surprising when you think about it.

One way of combating this poor start to the day are breakfast clubs. It allows kids to eat something before they start their school day.

Once again though, the figures aren’t good.

A further study by Kellogg’s found nearly half of the 1,000 children surveyed had attended a breakfast club in Primary School. That’s pleasing.

But only a fifth go to a morning school club to get something to eat before class at high school. Not so pleasing.

What’s the absolute worst thing to come out of this research?

That around one in 10 children feel too ashamed to eat in front of their friends.

This is a mindset that needs to change before any progress can be made.

“Secondary education sees our young people maturing into adulthood,” is what head of research at The Children’s Food Trust Jo Nicholas said.

How can one mature if they don’t even feel comfortable enough to talk openly about something as simple as food.