National School Breakfast Week:
School breakfast: how many local kids start their days
By Danielle Strenke Each school day, hundreds of area students start the day with a hearty, nutritious breakfast. There was a time when that could only mean they ate that meal at home. Now, more and more kidsñand parentsñare taking advantage of school breakfast programs. As National School Breakfast Week is recognized March 4-8, roughly 15-20 percent of students in local schools are coming to school a little early to enjoy a nutritious breakfast. At North Branch Primary School, the average 125 students participate in the school breakfast program each day. Pam Connolly, who heads the food service program at the school, said they have been offering breakfast at all the district schools as long as she can remember. In North Branch, the food program is maintained by an outside food service, with a director who plans each weekís menu. ìThe staff puts in their input tooñthey know what the kids like,î Connolly said. She said there are several popular breakfast items at the Primary School, many of which involve eating with their hands and using a dipping sauce. French toast sticks, waffle sticks, breakfast pizza, and ìGo-gurtî brand yogurt are some popular offerings. Also popular, though, are the more traditional fare. Kids eating breakfast at the school last week said they enjoyed eggs and pancakes the best. Connolly said she usually sees the same kids eating breakfast there every day, although all students and staff members are invited to eat breakfast at the school. ìWe have one teacher who eats here almost every morning,î Connolly said. The idea of school breakfast programs may have started to assist low-income families provide a nutritious meal, but several research studies have proven the importance of a good breakfast for all students, making it a vital component of the school day. Connolly said she has heard from several teachers who notice a difference. ìIt definitely helps their performance in school,î she said. ìI have teachers who have kids show up late and ask if they can come down for breakfast, because they know it makes a difference.î Principal Jan Fischer said it is important for the district to be able to provide breakfast to the kids. ìThe school bus comes pretty early for some kids, and they just donít have time to eat at home,î she said. ìEven some who do eat something at home will come in here for breakfast too.î Each breakfast typically contains four components, and must include a protein, starch, and beverage. In the Rush City School District, numbers of participants eating breakfast can range from an average of 50 at the high school and 60 at Jacobson Elementary, to 75 at Jacobson and 100 at the high school. ìIt depends a lot on what weíre serving that day,î food service director Donna Westman said. The overwhelmingly popular breakfast choice at both schools is breakfast pizza. At Jacobson, Linzy, Ryan and Todd, all 7, and Dakota, 5 said the pizza was their top choice. Bernie, 7, said it was the bagels, which he was enjoying with some jelly Tuesday morning. The kids have different reasons for coming to school early for breakfast. ìMy brother gets me up and I donít have time,î Bernie said. Ryan had the same reason, while Lauren, 7, didnít really know why she came to eat breakfast there. ìI never used to eat breakfast, but I know itís important,î she said. Perhaps just as important as encouraging kids to eat breakfast is the social atmosphere they encounter at school breakfast time. With only a few tables of students, the cafeterias are quieter, and the kids can enjoy a few minutes to get ready for the day. It also is an opportunity to get to know the kids, Sue Mold said. She directs the food service at Jacobson Elementary. ìI have a list to know whoís coming to eat breakfast,î she said. ìBut itís usually the same kids, so you get to know their names.î On Tuesday, she was having an important conversation about loose teeth with a couple of students. ìYou have to take a few minutes to chat,î Mold said. At the high school, where breakfast costs $1 for students and $1.20 for staff, Westman said its usually the same group of kids each morning. ìI can tell when the regulars donít come in, and ask ëwhere were you this morningí when they come in for lunch,î she said. She also enjoys the more relaxed, social atmosphere that school breakfast provides. ìIím a firm believer that you should be able to know their names,î she said. Westman plans the menus for both schools, but is constantly looking for input from students. ìIím always looking for new things theyíll like.î Such as quick foodsñgo-gurt, pop tarts, doughnuts. Some kids just come in for a milk, juice, or doughnut, Westman said. ìI figure thatís okay too, at least theyíre having something instead of a pop.î Food service staff and teachers all seem to agree that it makes a difference on how willing the kids are to learn, after they have started the day with a good breakfast.
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