No Kid Hungry fights to end childhood hunger, but we don’t do it alone. We know school nutrition heroes play a critical role in ensuring kids have the food they need to learn. From teachers and custodians to superintendents and parents – it takes a village to get kids healthy meals in schools every day.
This National School Breakfast Week, we want to highlight the importance of school meals and how school nutrition heroes play an integral role in getting kids healthy meals in school every single day.
For the millions of children who receive a free or reduced-price school lunch or breakfast, these nutritious, convenient and affordable meals fill in the gaps that many kids are missing at home by increasing their health and overall well-being.
- Better nutrition increases students’ concentration and improves their cognitive function, which leads to higher test scores and a better education.
- School lunches are designed to meet specific nutritional needs for growing kids. When these standards are met, kids are less likely to get sick or miss school.
- Providing students with breakfast in the classroom helps to reduce chronic absenteeism by 6%.
- Children who are nourished are less irritable, get along better with classmates and cause fewer classroom disruptions.
Kids all across South Carolina would not be getting the nutrition they need without the South Carolina school nutrition advocates and heroes making it happen every day.
What is a School Nutrition Hero?
A school nutrition hero is anyone who takes action to improve school meals programs and helps kids get the nutrition they need to fuel their learning, like a kitchen staff member who goes above and beyond.
Is there a school nutrition hero in your school or community who has worked tirelessly to ensure students have the food they need to learn and grow? Nominate them as a School Nutrition Hero today!
We are collecting stories of School Nutrition Heroes across the state to celebrate and recognize on School Lunch Hero Day (May 5), an annual celebration of the school nutrition heroes who work every day to keep kids fed and healthy.
Nominees who are chosen by No Kid Hungry as School Nutrition Heroes will be published on our website and receive a special School Nutrition Hero gift basket and certificate to showcase their hard work.
For more information, click on the button below. The deadline to submit a nomination is April 21st, 2023.