Seize the morning with breakfast!
Many
Wisconsin families with school age children are beginning to review their
back-to-school supply lists. Pencils, notebooks--and don’t forget breakfast,
eaten either at home or at school.
Research
shows that breakfast is an integral component of academic success. There are
consistent benefits of eating breakfast every day. The evidence indicates that
children who eat breakfast succeed academically and have fewer behavior and
discipline problems.
In addition to breakfast’s contribution to cognitive skills, studies also suggest that children and families who eat breakfast regularly are less likely to be overweight than those who do not eat breakfast. Eating breakfast helps control hunger, minimizing the temptation to overeat throughout the day. It also provides necessary energy to the brain, improving efficient functions and allowing for good concentration skills.
Despite
the proven benefits, many school age children don’t eat breakfast. Lack of
time, erratic morning schedules, lack of economic resources, and limited access
to healthy foods may contribute to low breakfast consumption for many families
in Wisconsin.
If a
school offers a school breakfast program, it is a great option for ensuring
students has access to a healthy meal in the morning. Breakfasts served at
schools must meet specific nutrient requirements and provide healthy, balanced
meal choices for students.
Across
the state, 74 percent of schools offer breakfasts serving hot or cold
breakfasts to any student who wants to participate in the program. Contrary to
popular belief, the school breakfast program does not just serve low-income
students; regardless of household income, all students can and do take
advantage of eating breakfast at school.
Knowing
if your child’s school offers the school breakfast program is good information
for families. Parents and families are influential in matters of nutrition and
school meals. It is not uncommon for a school to start a breakfast program in
part because of their parents’ support for it.
As a
way to reach out to parents, families, and communities about the benefits of
the school breakfast program, a new video was created in partnership with the
Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, and the
University of Wisconsin-Extension. This video showcases four local school
districts and their breakfast programs. It is designed to be widely shared at events
and meetings of school boards, school wellness committees, communities, and Parent/Teacher
Associations.
View
the video at
For
more information and suggestions about breakfast and school breakfast, contact
your county UW-Extension office and the Wisconsin School Breakfast Programs
website at http://fyi.uwex.edu/wischoolbreakfast/.
The
Department of Public Instruction School Breakfast website also contains
information about Wisconsin’s school breakfast programs here: http://fns.dpi.wi.gov/fns_sbp1.
Amy
Korth, family living program specialist with the University of
Wisconsin-Extension
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