Celebrate National School Breakfast Week

School Breakfast Matters

As the nation continues to grapple with the pandemic, 1 in 6 kids could face hunger this year and may be heading to school with empty stomachs. Hunger has long-term ramifications on children, including lower test scores, weaker attendance rates, and a higher risk of hospitalizations and chronic diseases.

Luckily, we have a powerful tool to combat childhood hunger at our disposal: nutritious school breakfasts. School breakfast is a critical way to ensure kids get the consistent nutrition they need to feel better, learn more and grow up strong.

School breakfast is intertwined with student success. Studies show that kids who eat school breakfast are more likely to excel academically, be more alert, and have better concentration and memory.

We also know that innovative breakfast models like breakfast in the classroom, grab and go, and second chance breakfast break down common barriers to student participation in breakfast and increase the number of students eating breakfast each morning.

Success Story: Lexington One School District

Here in South Carolina, even as they face an immense set of challenges, including supply chain disruptions and labor shortages, school nutrition staff have adapted to ensure kids get a healthy meal to start the day.

For example, in Lexington One School District, they operate grab-and-go breakfast programs at White Knoll and Gilbert High Schools that allow students to pick up their breakfasts from mobile carts placed in common areas and take them to their classroom, as well as breakfast in the classroom programs in their elementary schools. Lexington One School District has also partnered with WholeSpire (formerly Eat Smart, Move More South Carolina) to engage students in the marketing of the program.

Since launching this program, breakfast participation has increased by 10%.

"Students thoroughly enjoy the grab-n-go breakfast options. We have seen a significant increase in breakfast participation. The mobile breakfast carts and the breakfast-in-the-classroom programs have made a big difference in growing our breakfast program. The nursing staff shares they are seeing fewer student referrals for headaches and stomach issues typically associated with "transient hunger" now that more students are eating breakfast. Teachers say students are more alert when they eat breakfast and the tardiness days have decreased since we have introduced the grab-n-go breakfast and breakfast in the classroom models."

Sally Nicholson, RDN, LD

Lexington One School District Food Service Director

Join Us and Celebrate School Breakfast

This National School Breakfast Week, we celebrate the importance of school breakfast and the critical role school nutrition professionals play in helping children succeed in and out of the classroom. Feeding kids today is one of the smartest investments we can make to ensure they’re ready to face the challenges of tomorrow.

Join us as we celebrate National School Breakfast Week, highlighting the importance of school breakfast and the critical role school nutrition professionals play in helping children succeed in and out of the classroom.

Here are some simple ways to do that:

Thank school nutrition staff on social media using #NSBW22 and use some of these photos for the post. Don’t forget to tag us at @NoKidHungry.
Share this blog post about the importance of school breakfast.
Check out these great resources from SNA for more ideas.

If you are interested in exploring innovative service models or need support for your school breakfast program, No Kid Hungry South Carolina is here to help. Complete the Inquiry Form at the link below to tell us more and we’ll be in touch!