As we gear up for the craziness that comes with the last days of the school year, I know we are all feeling the struggle to keep the momentum we had in the fall. Keeping up with homework, end of year testing, extra-curricular activities and just plain ole’ Spring Fever can be a formidable task as the kids are starting to itch for the lazy days of summer. I know at our house, just getting the kid out the door with both shoes on and his hair combed is considered an accomplishment for the day, let alone making sure he has had a proper breakfast. Grab and Go breakfast in our school’s cafeteria has been a life saver in these kinds of situations as it ensures he has the proper nourishment to keep up with his demanding schedule.
I recently learned of a fantastic program that helps all kids have the opportunity to do their best every day by working hard to increase school breakfast awareness and participation as well as help get kids active for at least 60 minutes a day. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school health and wellness program launched by National Dairy Council and NFL, in collaboration with the USDA, to help encourage today's youth to lead healthier lives. Schools have opportunities to apply for funding, including the recently announced $35 million in grants aimed at helping schools update or upgrade their existing kitchen equipment in partnership with the USDA, GENYOUth Foundation and the NFL. These upgrades can help increase the number of school meals as well as help offer better access to nutritious foods.
One special event took place at Pleasant Hill Elementary where they hosted a parfait building contest involving four students, a dairy farmer, an NFL player and the commissioner of agriculture. Following this, students headed to the gym for the “Fuel Greatness Breakfast Games”—an Olympic-style event lead by the dairy farmer hoisting a torch. Students participated in games including building MyPlate, milk carton pyramid stacking and obstacle courses. Students were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals in the competition.
Why so much emphasis on school breakfast?
- Three out of four K-8 public school teachers that were surveyed about breakfast reported that their students regularly show up to school hungry.*
- Breakfast at school offers kids a chance to share a meal with classmates and friends.
- Not all kids have nutritious breakfast available to them at home. Approximately one in five households with kids struggle at some point during the year to put food on the table.**
- School breakfast may lead to improved academic performance.***
It’s easy to see why (school) breakfast is the most important meal of the day!
How can we all help?
Get Involved:
Visit FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn how school breakfast can provide children with the nutrients they need and how you can help make breakfast available to all students. Here, you can:
- Learn more about why school breakfast matters and see how school districts, and others are helping #FuelGreatness.
- Access Playbook resources such as Breakfast – Anytime, Anywhere and A Hero’s Breakfast to help encourage your local school to start a breakfast program and implement alternative breakfast service models.
- Find ways to help schools enroll in Fuel Up to Play 60 or further their involvement in the program.
- Join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and show us how YOU Fuel Greatness with breakfast using #FuelGreatness.
Check out how Fuel Up to Play 60 is helping make breakfast time fun, too! https://youtu.be/tuZew9z4ZUQ
I was compensated for this article. All opinions are my own.
*“Hunger In Our Schools.” 1st ed. Washington: No Kid Hungry, 2015. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.
** Felling, Christy. "STATEMENT: Share Our Strength's Bill Shore on New USDA Food Insecurity Numbers | www.nokidhungry.org." STATEMENT: Share Our Strength's Bill Shore on New USDA Food Insecurity Numbers | www.nokidhungry.org. No Kid Hungry, 4 Sept. 2014. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.
*** Adolphus, Katie, Clare L. Lawton, and Louise Dye. "The Effects of Breakfast on Behavior and Academic Performance in Children and Adolescents." Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. Frontiers Media S.A., 8 Aug. 2013. Web. 29 Jan. 2016.
