National School Breakfast Week encouraged healthy choices

To encourage more families to take advantage of the healthy choices available for school breakfast, New Albany Elementary School celebrated National School Breakfast Week during March 5-9, 2018.

Busy weekday mornings make it a challenge for many families to find time for a healthy breakfast. However, US Department of Agriculture data show that more and more students are starting their day with a nutritious breakfast in their school cafeterias. Studies show that students who eat school breakfast are more likely to:

• Reach higher levels of achievement in math
• Score higher on standardized tests
• Have better concentration, memory and alertness
• Have improved attendance, behavior, and academic performance
• Maintain a healthy weight

The National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) campaign theme, “I Heart School Breakfast”, reminded the entire school community that school breakfast provides a healthy and energizing start to the day for students. Students were encouraged to show their enthusiasm for “I Heart School Breakfast” from March 5-9 with special cafeteria events:
• Monday, March 5-Students were able to watch The Emoji Movie while eating breakfast.
• Tuesday, March 6-Members of the New Albany Police & Fire Departments joined NAES students for breakfast.
• Wednesday, March 7-School administrators helped serve breakfast to NAES students.
• Thursday, March 8-A photo booth was set up for students to participate in during breakfast at the NAES cafeteria.
• Friday, March 9-Student athletes from New Albany High School joined elementary students for breakfast.

“A healthy breakfast at the start of the day is one way to ensure students are getting the best education possible,” said Tammie Reeder, School Health Services Coordinator for New Albany Schools. “National School Breakfast Week helps us educate parents and students about all the healthy, great tasting, and appealing choices we offer.”

School nutrition professionals in the New Albany School District prepare breakfast and lunches every day that meet federal nutrition standards – limiting fat, calories and sodium – while encouraging students to choose from the fruits, vegetables and whole grains offered with school meals.”

The “I Heart School Breakfast” campaign was made possible by the School Nutrition Association and Kellogg’s®.National School Breakfast Week was launched in 1989 to raise awareness of the availability of the School Breakfast Program, a federally assisted meal program operating in public and non-profit private schools and residential child care institutions since 1975.