How important is a good breakfast to start the school day? Studies by the Food Research and Action Center indicate that students who eat school breakfast increase their math and reading scores and improve their cognitive speed and memory skills. The study also shows that fewer than half of the children who receive lunch at school also receive breakfast. Fulton County Schools join schools across the nation celebrating the value of a good breakfast.
March 4 -8 is National School Breakfast Week and to increase participation, Fulton County schools will recognize the week by all cafeterias celebrating with special decorations and contests under the 2013 theme, “Be a Star with School Breakfast”.
During National School Breakfast Week, the classroom with the highest breakfast participation in each elementary school will win a classroom prize pack. Middle and high school students will receive a raffle ticket and earn a chance to win prizes each day they join the cafeteria for breakfast.
Although National School Breakfast Week is observed for just one week, nutritious eating is celebrated yearlong and every school day in Fulton County Schools. The district’s school breakfast program offers students the healthy foods they need to get set for a busy school day.
Alyssia Wright, executive director of the district’s School Nutrition department, says “Students have the choice of a hot or cold nutritious breakfast entree paired with a choice of fresh fruit or 100% fruit juice and a choice of skim or low-fat milks. Every school breakfast served meets federal nutrition standards limiting fat and portion size.”
Also, at just $1.05 for elementary schools and $1.20 for middle and high schools, healthy school breakfasts are affordable and can be a lifesaver for busy parents.
“It’s a race for any family to get their kids ready, fed and out the door in time for school,” Wright says. “Knowing that their children can eat a healthy breakfast at school can be a huge relief for parents.”
Parents can find school system menus and prepay for meals online at: www.fultonschools.org/dept/schoolnutrition
“Be a Star with School Breakfast” was created by the non-profit School Nutrition Association with support from Kellogg’s Foodservice. This national campaign was launched in 1989 to raise awareness of the availability of the school breakfast program to all children and the links between eating a good breakfast, academic achievement and healthy lifestyles.
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