Wellcome partnered with Foodlink Foundation earlier to conduct a survey on the breakfast habits of Hong Kong students. The findings revealed that nearly 40% of the surveyed students do not eat breakfast daily, while 30% of students have nutritionally inadequate breakfasts. In response to this, Wellcome, following their “Sik Jor Fan Mei” initiative, is launching the “Breakfast Buddies” Community Programme! For a year starting from 27 April 2025, the programme will distribute 100,000 breakfast vouchers to students in need from Primary 1 to Secondary 6 across various districts through Foodlink Foundation, to provide them with nutritious breakfast food items. This aims to let students start their day with sufficient energy and nutrients, and to fuel their daily learning and growth.
Detailed results of the survey
Foodlink Foundation conducted a survey on the breakfast habits of Hong Kong students between 4 and 18 March 2025. Over 1,300 Primary 1 to Secondary 6 students across 11 schools and NGOs were surveyed. The results are as follows:
- 36% of surveyed students do not have the habit of eating breakfast daily
- Among students who have breakfast, 32% of them will opt for fast food items such as instant noodles – choices which nutritionists deemed unhealthy
- 64% of the students pick food with lower nutritional value or skip breakfast because of costs
The results suggest there is room for improvement in students’ breakfast habits.
As for those who do not eat breakfast, most of the students surveyed (16%) reported they cannot afford nutritious breakfasts that are more expensive, that they were too rushed in the morning which makes it hard to prepare for breakfasts. This reflects the cost of breakfasts significantly impacts students’ breakfast habits. Additionally, 60% of the surveyed students expressed a desire for a nutritious breakfast, and nearly 40% believe that discounts offered by businesses could help encourage their breakfast-eating habits.
Wellcome and Foodlink Foundation join hands again to distribute 100,000 breakfast vouchers
To encourage students to choose a nutritionally balanced and healthy breakfast, Wellcome and Foodlink Foundation have announced the launch of the “Breakfast Buddies” Community Programme, distributing 100,000 breakfast vouchers to Primary 1 to Secondary 6 underprivileged students in Hong Kong in the coming year. Students can use the vouchers to redeem four nutritious breakfast food items at all Wellcome stores, including eggs, milk, oats, and apples. The programme is expected to provide 280,000 apples, 160,000 boxes of eggs, 40,000 packs of 200g oats, and 16,000 one-litre cartons of milk in the first year of its launch, totalling a retail value of over HK$2 million.
