Eat and enjoy breakfast at school

Students are encouraged to eat and enjoy breakfast at school

You’ve heard the saying, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”  That rings true in Gaston County Schools because eating breakfast helps to ensure that students are well-nourished and ready to start the school day.

Obviously, eating breakfast benefits students when it comes to health and nutrition, but it also helps with academic performance, attendance, and classroom behavior.  Research indicates that breakfast gives children the necessary nutrients and energy to focus on their schoolwork and behave in class.

Best of all, at most schools in Gaston County Schools, breakfast is provided free-of-charge.  There are 47 schools involved in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) federal program that makes free meals available.  Click here for a list of the schools that are eligible for CEP.

All students are encouraged to eat breakfast at school.  Some of the most popular menu items are cinnamon rolls, yogurt with muffin, and butter maple waffles.  Other items included on the menu on a regular basis are breakfast pizza, cereal, chicken biscuits, sausage biscuits, pancakes, fresh fruit, juice, and milk.  Click here for the daily breakfast menu.

“We are pleased to provide breakfast for our students because we know that mornings can be hectic and busy, and we do not want students to skip breakfast in order to save time,” said Margaret Cameron, the nutrition and marketing specialist for Gaston County Schools who has experience and knowledge working as a dietitian.  “We have breakfast ready and waiting on students when they arrive at school – we want parents to know that, and we want them to encourage their children to eat breakfast at school.”

Here are a five takeaways about why students should eat breakfast at school:

▪ Students won’t be hungry when they get to class, which makes them more likely to be ready to focus on the lessons and activities.

▪ Students have fewer behavioral problems and disciplinary issues and are more likely to get along with others because eating breakfast helps reduce hunger-related irritability.

▪ Students get the vitamins and nutrients they need by consuming a well-balanced breakfast that is planned and prepared in accordance with dietary guidelines.

▪ Students begin building lifelong healthy eating habits; students who eat breakfast are less likely to overeat later in the day, which can contribute to being overweight.

▪ Students wake up and look forward to eating breakfast when they get to school; this contributes to better attendance and lower rates of tardiness and unexcused absences.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Children who eat breakfast are better students. Breakfast is available at school every day so students should eat and enjoy!