SCHOOL BREAKFAST: IMPROVING STUDENTS’ MINDS & BODIES
Volume 79, Number 2 March/April 2008
Conclusion
For many children who do not eat a nutritious breakfast at home, participation in the SBP helps to improve their nutritional status, well-being, and ability to learn. Although participation in the SBP has increased over the years, this program continues to be underutilized, particularly by eligible low-income children.
Recognizing that the lack of a healthful breakfast puts children’s health and academic performance at risk, many school districts and schools are implementing strategies to increase student participation in the SBP. Effective strategies include offering the SBP at no cost to all students regardless of family income; in-classroom breakfast or other alternative serving methods (e.g., “grab and go”); and increasing the appeal of nutritious foods, for example, by offering milk ice-cold, in kid-friendly, plastic re-sealable containers, and in multiple flavors. To ensure that all children are ready to learn, more schools nationwide need to offer the SBP and implement effective strategies to help increase participation in this program.
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