To encourage more families to take advantage of the healthy choices available for school breakfast, Liberty County schools will celebrate National School Breakfast Week during March 4-8, 2019.
Busy weekday mornings make it a challenge for many families to find time for a healthy breakfast. The USDASchool Breakfast Program currently serves 14 million students every day. Studies show that students who eat school breakfast are more likely to:
• Reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math
• Score higher on standardized tests
• Have better concentration and memory
• Be more alert
• Maintain a healthy weight
The National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) campaign theme, “Start Your Engines,” reminds the entire school community that school breakfast provides a healthy and energizing start to the day for students. The City of Hinesville Mayor, Allen Brown, will sign the official proclamation proclaiming the week of March 4 – 8, 2019 National School Breakfast Week. The week will be full of activities to engage students and bring awareness to the importance of starting off the day with a nutritious breakfast. Community volunteers will be on hand to give out “Start Your Engine” themed pencils and bookmarks and the week will end with a raffle where students who have eaten breakfast at school all week will be eligible for some great prizes.
“A healthy breakfast at the start of the day is one way to ensure students are getting the best education they can,” said Stephanie Fox, Liberty County School Nutrition Director. “National School Breakfast Week helps us educate parents and students about all the healthy, great tasting, and appealing choices we offer.”
The district serves over 6,615 breakfast meals daily through the federally funded School Breakfast Program. School nutrition professionals 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.
During the week breakfasts will focus on brain fueling foods. Healthy whole grains from cereals provide fiber and energy while fruits like bananas and oranges offer Vitamin C and potassium. Sustained energy from proteins found in yogurt and eggs give students fuel for the entire day. Lower fat milk choices offered allow students to build strong bones and teeth as well as provides energy balance and protein. This week will focus on healthy and delicious foods that grow children’s bodies and minds.
The “Start Your Engines” campaign is made possible by the School Nutrition Association and Kellogg’s®.
Parents and students can follow the fun on Facebook.com/TrayTalk using the hashtag #NSBW19
For more information, contact Stephanie Fox at sfox@liberty.k12.ga.us or (912) 876-2162.