Why is Breakfast SO Important?
- Children who haven’t eaten breakfast have difficulty concentrating in school.
- Hungry children are often distracted, lethargic and often cause disruptions in class.
- Research has shown that Breakfast Programs actually improve student attendance.
Benefits of a Breakfast Program
- The first benefit is providing children with a good start to the day – a nutritious meal.
- Other goals, such as offering nutritional education and providing a positive social experience, are also important reasons why communities initiate Breakfast Programs.
- Sometimes the more intangible goals are considered the most important ones.
Children Are NOT Eating Before Coming to School
- There are a number of reasons why children participate in nutritional programs, and it is clear that poverty is only one of several factors.
- An alarming 31% of elementary and 62% of secondary children do not start their day with a nutritious breakfast and come to school hungry.
Why Aren’t They Eating?
- Children take the bus and the early departure does not allow them time to eat.
- Parents work long hours and have a long commute leaving the children alone to prepare their own breakfast.
- Mornings are just too busy to include a meal routine within a time line.
- Homework had to done instead.
- Family finances are tight
The Recommended Model According to Breakfast for Learning
- Most Breakfast Programs operate locally through the efforts of community volunteers.
- Collaborative programs between schools and communities seem to work the best.
What We Considered
- Financial Resources.
The food and nutritional content. - Facilities and personnel required to prepare and serve the food.
- Explore how parents, teachers and students view the program and to evaluate whether it has met its goals of improving food intake, behaviour, academic performance, nutritional knowledge or quality of life.