Expanding Breakfast Programs

While we know having a breakfast program makes good sense for the health and well-being of the children, a successful breakfast program also makes good "cents" for child nutrition programs. To reach financial success, food service operators must begin taking meals to where the customers are or make the meals available at a time when the customer is ready to eat. It's up to the food service team to develop a plan for reaching students with a variety of service methods. Three alternative breakfast service methods for consideration include:

Breakfast in the Classroom

Participation can reach as high as 95%-98% of enrollment

Breakfast after 1st period

Depending on location of meal service and whether  classes eat together, this method can increase meal participation to 50% or more of enrollment.

Grab 'n' Go Breakfast

This method, a "nutrition break" for students who are not hungry first thing in the morning, increases participation by attracting students to meal carts during class changes or before school and can generate a varying level of additional meals.

 

Why Explore Alternative Methods for Serving Breakfast?

  • As students become more sophisticated and exposed to more and more commercial food service marketing, they expect  more customer-friendly options. School meals are no exception.
  • Aggressive marketing requires that meals be available to students within the framework and time constraints of their school day. To reach financial success, food service operators must begin taking meals to where the customers are or make the meals available at a time when the customer is ready to eat.

Breakfast = School Achievement

Increased test scores and grades

Decreased tardiness and behavior problems

Improved student attendance

Increased students' attention span

  
   

EVERYONE WINS WITH BREAKFAST

 
 
 
Expanding Breakfast Online Course
  
 

Take the NEW Expanding Breakfast Online Course, learn how to boost participation in your breakfast program and get two hours of SNA CEU credits, at the same time!

Research and experience have proven that serving breakfast outside of the cafeteria - Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab 'n' Go Breakfast or Breakfast After 1st Period - significantly increases participation and benefits your child nutrition program. The NEW Expanding Breakfast Online Course, co-sponsored by National Dairy Council® and the Child Nutrition Foundation:

  • Helps you select which Expanding Breakfast alternate service option works best for your program
  • Assists in examining the financial impact of the program
  • Takes you step-by-step to develop an implementation and communication plan
  • Includes school nutrition professional testimonials and case histories, and more!
  
 
Click here for the Expanding Breakfast Online Course
 
   
   
   
   

 

Announcing the 2008 Expanding Breakfast Awards

Presented by the Dairy Council of Florida

appleApply Today!

Click above to print the application

The Expanding Breakfast Awards will recognize three Florida schools for bringing a healthy breakfast to more children in creative ways.  The benefits children receive from eating a nutritious breakfast are numerous and well-documented.  Eating breakfast yields better student test scores, increases concentration and attendance, decreases disciplinary problems and more.  Expanding Breakfast is a proven way to ensure all children are given those opportunities.

bagelAward Amounts

1st Place $5,000, 2nd Place $2,000, 3rd Place $1,000

 

Eligibility

The Expanding Breakfast Awards are open to all Florida schools that are currently offering an alternate breakfast service.  Anyone in the school may apply for an award, including school nutrition managers, school nurses, or school administrators.  Each school may apply only once.

 

girlsApplication Deadline

Applications will be accepted from March 3, 2008 to May 9, 2008 5pm EST

Awards will be announced on or around September 2, 2008


Congratulations to last year's winners:
1st Place = Pea Ridge Elementary – Santa Rosa County
2nd Place – Chasco Elementary – Pasco County
3rd Place – St Lucie Elementary – St Lucie County

Here are some resources that offer more information about Expanding Breakfast, and how offering an alternate breakfast serving method can increase participation in your school breakfast program.

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Download Application Now

 

For more information about the Expanding Breakfast Awards program,

contact Jennifer@Floridamilk.com or 1-800-516-4443