It’s true. Eating a breakfast of Kellogg’s® Frosted Mini-Wheats® cereal is clinically shown to improve kid’s attentiveness by nearly 20%1.

Take a minute to go beyond the headline and learn more about this exciting research.

In order to determine if kids were better able to pay attention, cognitive performance was measured. You can think of cognitive performance as being able to apply what you’ve learned and remember. It is important to know that cognitive function is an important “gauge” because it is critical in all of our everyday activities. Cognition describes the mental processes involved in acquiring, storing, retrieving and manipulating information. Strong cognitive processes are essential to physical, mental and emotional well being.

The study was conducted by an independent research group and then reviewed by third-party researchers. Cognitive testing was conducted in 8 – 12 yr old children from various backgrounds. Children were tested prior to eating breakfast to get a base measurement. Then, children were either provided a breakfast of Kellogg’s® Frosted Mini-Wheats® cereal or water. Next, the children were given a series of tests (the same tests and measurements as prior to the breakfast) each hour for three consecutive hours. The results were taken for three hours after breakfast since this is most likely when children may start to feel hungry, which may lead to distraction.

The study used a computerized assessment system, which is quite similar to the traditional “pencil and paper” testing and is most commonly used today. The advanced technology of computerized testing offers more accurate measures in both the response time as well as speed and accuracy of the response.

In order to measure attentiveness, the accuracy of responses were measured on tests that required sustained attention. After all, if children are accurate, it means they were able to keep their mind on a single task for a prolonged period – or, be attentive.

The following is a brief description of the two tests used to measure attentiveness:

A look at the meaning of the words “digit” and “vigilance” can help you understand what this test is all about. “Digit” refers to a figure, number or symbol. “Vigilance” can be defined as attentiveness, acuity and alertness. A “digit vigilance” test is designed to measure the ability to concentrate (or be attentive) on a series of rapidly changing letters or numbers (digits) without being interrupted.

Here is how it worked: A single letter or number appears on the right hand side of the screen and remains there for the length of the task. Additionally, a continuous series of letters or numbers appears, one at a time, in the middle of the screen. Every time the letter or number in the middle of the computer screen matches the one on the right, the child is instructed to press the right arrow key as quickly as possible.

As you can see, this task requires sustained vigilance (i.e.; attentiveness). If the child’s attention wanders, then their response may be delayed or inaccurate.

This test measures accuracy of reaction time on the computer on a task that is prolonged (meaning lengthy!). If the child isn’t paying attention, he or she will not be able to react quickly or accurately.

Here’s how it worked: Either the word ‘NO’ or the word ‘YES’ appears in on the screen. The child is instructed to press a corresponding key (ie: the right arrow key for YES and the left arrow key for NO) as quickly as possible.
This test is quite lengthy, providing 50 trials.

As you can imagine, this test assess the child’s ability to pay attention. Both the response time is measured as well as accuracy of the responses.

While this is the first research to study how a breakfast of Kellogg’s® Frosted Mini-Wheats can improve cognitive performance, many studies suggest that breakfast plays an important role in learning and memory. More recently, research has shown that the type of food consumed at breakfast may play a role in memory and attention tasks. Take a look:

With at least 25% of the daily recommended intake of fiber and 85% of the recommended daily intake of whole grains per serving, Kellogg’s® Frosted Mini Wheats® cereal “fits the bill.” The 8 layers of whole grains help slow digestion and the 5 to 6 grams of fiber per serving helps contribute to a feeling of fullness. This winning combination of whole grain and fiber can help your little one stay full and focused.

And get this – when served with 1 cup skim milk and a fresh banana, a Kellogg’s® Frosted Mini Wheats® breakfast provides 31% of the recommended daily value of calcium, 36% fiber, 12% vitamin A, 17% vitamin C and 30% magnesium ... in less than 400 calories (20% of the recommended daily intake) and 1 gram of fat.
Now that’s a great start!

Most importantly, remember that children who see their parents eat breakfast may be more likely to eat breakfast, too. So take time to start the morning together with Kellogg’s® Frosted Mini Wheats® cereal. For more information on the benefits of breakfast as well as quick and nutritious breakfast ideas, visit www.kelloggsnutrition.com.