Traditional school breakfast programs often have barriers that prohibit students from eating breakfast before school, such as:
- Transportation: The school bus does not arrive in time for kids to get breakfast in the cafeteria.
- Busy mornings: Regardless of their socioeconomic status, many families are rushed in the morning and don’t always have time for breakfast at home.
- Stigma: There is often stigma associated with eating breakfast in the cafeteria before school starts; therefore, children avoid it, especially middle- and high-school students, for whom social status and the perceptions of their peers loom large.
- Lack of resources: For low-income families, there simply may not always be enough food at home for kids to have a healthy breakfast.
Does my child have to eat school breakfast?
Participation in the school breakfast program is voluntary. If you prefer your child not to eat breakfast at school, tell your child’s teacher.
Does School Breakfast take away from instructional time?
No! On average, it takes students about 15 minutes to eat breakfast in their classroom. Teachers spend that time constructively on classroom activities and report that they actually gain instructional time due to fewer disruptions such as visits to the school nurse, tardiness, and absenteeism.
Does eating school breakfast contribute to childhood obesity?
Research has shown that obesity rates do not increase for kids who eat breakfast at home and at school. In fact, skipping breakfast is associated with a 2.66 times higher risk of being obese or overweight than eating breakfast at home and at school. Kids who eat school breakfast are also more likely to have a better overall diet, eating more fruits, dairy and a variety of foods.
View more information on School Breakfast.
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