SOME West Devon schoolchildren were given food for thought last week, as part of Taste of the West's Farmhouse Breakfast Week. The Dartmoor Class, years 2 and 3, at Boasley Cross Community School, participated in a bread- making session to highlight the importance of a healthy breakfast. Farmhouse Breakfast Week is an annual campaign that emphasises the importance of eating a healthy breakfast every day. The theme for this year's campaign, 'A Great Start,' encouraged staff and children to wake up to a balanced breakfast as part of a healthy and active lifestyle. John Sheaves, chief executive of Taste of the West, said: 'Research shows just how important breakfast is for any schoolchild. 'Nine percent of children will be more alert and ten percent are less likely to suffer memory and attention span difficulties compared with those that have no breakfast. 'With guaranteed fun for all students, the challenge will help highlight the importance of good health through starting each day with a healthy breakfast.' The children at Boasley Cross made bread with ingredients and materials that were supplied by Lifton farm shop, Strawberry Fields. Sticky fingers were the order of the day as they got to grips with dough making while learning about the different ingredients and where they had come from. They also studied the 'change' process, in particular looking at how cooking changes the bread's texture and mass. The whole school was treated to a hearty breakfast the next day with Devonshire sausage and bacon, donated by Okehampton butchers A L Martin, accompanied by the bread the children had baked. Acting headteacher at Boasley Cross, Alison Ewen, said that the children had a great time and the day was fantastic. She added: 'Many nutritionists consider breakfast to be the most important meal of the day. 'Research suggests eating a healthy breakfast aids concentration and mental performance as well as reducing stress levels.'