Oats Don't Grow on Trees

Antony Worrall Thomson cooks up a healthy farmhouse breakfast with students

When it comes to knowing where food comes from and what ingredients are needed to make the simplest of dishes, like porridge, the older generation has the edge. According to the results of a survey released on 21 January 2010, over a quarter of children under the age of 16 believe oats come from trees and a third didn?t realise you need them to make porridge. Many young adults are also confused about what ingredients are used in staple foods like bread. In direct contrast, the older generation definitely know much more about their food.

The survey was conducted on behalf of HGCA, organisers of Farmhouse Breakfast Week (24-30 January 2010), in conjunction with the National Farmers? Union (NFU). Children and adults were asked questions about where breakfast foods including oats, milk and bacon come from, and the main ingredients needed to make popular breakfast dishes like porridge.

The results reveal a worrying lack of knowledge not just by children, but the under 30?s too. Twenty-six per cent of children thought bacon came from sheep and 17% of both children and adults, under the age of 30, believed eggs were a core ingredient in bread. In comparison the majority of the over 40?s questioned knew where oats came from; that bread is made from flour, water and yeast and that bacon comes from pigs.

Annabel Karmel, a leading expert on children?s food and nutrition commented:
?If children are going to develop good eating habits that will last a lifetime, like starting the day with breakfast, it is vital they understand more about food. We need to help them know where staple foods like oats, flour and milk come from and have fun in the kitchen showing them how to prepare simple, healthy meals. Farmhouse Breakfast Week is a great opportunity to show children and adults that breakfast need never be boring. From muesli to muffins, smoothies to cereals and bread to bacon there are so many quick and easy ways to enjoy the most important meal of the day.?

Peter Kendall, President of the NFU, observed: ?The results show how important it is to teach the adults of tomorrow about the food they eat. Everyone should know where primary foods like cereals are grown and the role they play as part of a healthy balanced diet. It is critical that children and adults alike understand more about their food, and the role British Farmers play in producing it.?

Antony Worrall Thomson commented saying ?Working with the students at Ealing Hammersmith & West London College is important to me as we all started somewhere and if students identify more with a celebrity chef then I?m happy to help deliver the message. The winning team cooked up a healthy, tasty and imaginative breakfast.?


The winning team (?The Wow Team?) cooked up a healthy breakfast of wheat flower pancakes with fruit, Bacon, Mushrooms, Cooked tomatos, Fried Egg, Eggy Bread and a Fruit Smoothie. When asked what they felt they had learnt from the event one quoted ?This competition has made me realise how important it is to have a healthy breakfast and in the future I will definitely encourage myself and others to start the day with one!?