By Madeline Levin of FRAC and Annelise Cohon of NEA HIN
Back to school means back to healthy school breakfast for many children who may have been skipping this important meal over the summer.
Children from low-income families are especially at risk for skipping meals and eating meals of lower nutritional value over the summer months, so getting back into the school routine can also mean getting into a healthy eating routine as well.
While most students eat lunch at school, many miss out on breakfast because they cannot arrive at school early enough to participate before school or prefer to play outside with their friends before the bell rings.
That’s why breakfast after the bell programs, where children eat in their classrooms during the first 10 minutes of class, are making such an impact in getting more healthy meals to students so they can start their day ready to learn. Educators in school districts across the country are praising the positive impacts of school breakfast.
Here’s what some of them have to say:
“Since my school began serving breakfast in classrooms, my students’ learning readiness has improved and they are eager to start the school day. They enjoy the family environment that breakfast creates and are better able to concentrate.” Markisha, Kindergarten teacher in North Carolina
“It’s a time that they can come together – read their books, eat their breakfast and start the day off positively.” Amy W., Kindergarten Teacher, Colorado
“I like the idea of knowing who’s eating and that we’ve all come together to eat and everybody is the same. It’s that equality.” Elementary teacher in Tennessee
“It adds to the family feel of the classroom. We all sit down; we eat together, the kids help clean up. They take care of each other.” Debra H., Teacher in North Carolina
However, it is not uncommon for educators to have some concerns and questions about school breakfast. Here are the top five, with responses based on classroom teacher’s experiences from around the country.
1. Is the quality of the meal good – are school breakfasts healthy?
By law, schools receiving federal meal reimbursement must serve a breakfast that meets national nutrition guidelines. School breakfasts can contain no trans fat and no more than 10 percent saturated fat, and rules limit the amount of sodium and calories.
Compared with non-participants, children who eat breakfast at school are more likely to consume diets that are adequate or exceed standards for important vitamins and minerals (e.g., vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorous). Some menu choices that might be perceived as unhealthy are actually prepared with less sugar and more whole grains, and are served with low-fat milk and fruit to provide a nutritious, balanced meal.
2. Doesn’t school breakfast, especially breakfast in the classroom, disrupt class and take away valuable teaching time?
Breakfast in the classroom has proven to be a successful model in many schools across the nation. Some teachers report they have actually gained instructional time due to fewer disruptions such as visits to the school nurse, tardiness, and absenteeism. In addition, teachers report that the quality of instruction improves when students eat breakfast because the children are more alert.
Breakfast can be incorporated into the learning process with lessons in health, social studies and math. Teachers can go about their morning routine while the students are eating breakfast at their desks. Many teachers report that starting the day eating together, builds community in the classroom and a sense of rapport and trust between teacher and students, as well as among the students.
3. What about students who eat more than one breakfast. Isn’t that contributing to the obesity epidemic?
Actually, a regular breakfast routine may serve as a safeguard against childhood obesity. Studies show that children who regularly eat school breakfast have a better quality of nutrient intake and are less likely to be overweight or obese. There is a small population of students who, for various reasons, need to consume something before leaving for school. This can be due to very early departures in the morning due to long travel times or in order to safely take medication.
A dependable school breakfast is important to discouraging unhealthy morning snacks from home or from stops on the way to school at the corner store. And for many low-income families the school breakfast program is the only reliable source of a healthy breakfast for their children on a daily basis.
4. Won’t having students eat breakfast in my classroom mean more mess and pests?
As long as students are provided with a structured routine for the service and cleanup of breakfast, Breakfast in the Classroom has not been shown to dirty classrooms. When adopting Breakfast in the Classroom, teachers and paraeducators are important collaborators in the final in-classroom service plan that works best for their school. In some schools, Teachers enlist students to help with cleanup – each student cleans up his or her own desk after eating breakfast; alternatively, student helpers or paraprofessionals can assist with cleanup of desks after breakfast is eaten.
For younger students, teachers or paraprofessionals might need to initially model for students how to clean and dispose of breakfast items. After a few weeks, students develop routines and classroom eating manners, eliminating any initial issues with bringing food into the classroom. Another reported benefit of Breakfast in the Classroom is an improvement in students’ table manners and mealtime social skills.
5. Shouldn’t it be the parent’s responsibility to feed their child breakfast at home?
Parents who choose to have their children eat breakfast at school are responsible parents! Busy parent lifestyles and bus and commuting schedules can interfere with children being fed breakfast at home. In addition, many children report not feeling hungry first thing in the morning but have a better appetite later in the morning.
Offering breakfast at school, after the opening bell, provides all students with the opportunity to get the morning nutrition they need to start their day.
For more school breakfast resources and assistance see NEA HIN’s Breakfast Toolkit and visit FRAC’s Expanding School Breakfast Resources here.
NEA HIN is a proud partner of the Breakfast for Learning Education Alliance. Click here for more information about the Alliance.
Have more questions that we didn’t answer? Please leave a comment below to keep this conversation going.