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Basics of School Breakfast

For K-12 School Foodservice Team

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Describe the importance of breakfast
Recognize school breakfast meal components
Identify a way to increase breakfast participation

To educate participants on the importance of breakfast and the components of the school breakfast program (SBP) meal patterns.

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Basics of School Breakfast

Purpose:

Objectives:

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over 15,500,000

Students participate in program daily

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School Breakfast and Potential Barriers

Busy schedules
Enough time?
Lack of stakeholder support
Lack of resources (money, staff, facilities)

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Serve Breakfast For Grade A Students

Improve health

Help reduce childhood overweight
Skipping meals leads to over-hunger and eating
Students say they feel good and are happy when they eat breakfast

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To help students do their best, be sure to offer a balanced and nutritious breakfast.

Perform better & increase test scores
Improve learning
Reduce school nurse visits

Improve attendance & behavior
Fewer distractions during learning

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Breakfast Requirements

Amount of food per week (minimum per day)

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	Grades K-5	Grades 6-8	Grades 9-12
Fruits (cups)	5 (1)	5 (1)	5 (1)
Grains (oz eq)	7 (1)	8 (1)	9 (1)
Milk (cup)	5 (1)	5 (1)	5 (1)

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Menu Planning: Fruit

What is a fruit equivalent?

½ cup fresh, frozen, or canned fruit = ½ cup fruit equivalent
½ cup 100% fruit juice = ½ cup fruit equivalent
¼ cup dried fruit = ½ cup fruit equivalent

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Menu Planning: Grain

What is a grain equivalent?

Bread, biscuit, roll, muffin, etc = 1 oz eq
~1- 1 ¼ cup cereal = 1 oz eq

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Menu Planning: Milk

What is a milk serving?

Must be fluid milk - 8 fl oz
Fat free or 1% (any flavor)

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Breakfast Requirements: Nutrition

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	Grades K-5	Grades 6-8	Grades 9-12
Min-Max Calories	350-500	400-550	450-600
Saturated Fat (% of total calories)	< 10	< 10	< 10
Sodium (mg) Target 2*	≤ 485	≤ 535	≤ 570
Trans Fat	Nutrition label or manufacturer specifications must indicate zero grams of trans fat per serving

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Is this a reimbursable meal (grades K-5)?

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Basics of School Lunch

YES!

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Is this a reimbursable meal (grades K-5)?

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Basics of School Lunch

No!

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Serving Up School Breakfast

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Best Sellers

Cereal
Bagels, toast, muffins
Cereal bars, pastries
Breakfast cookie
Eggs/egg sandwich
French toast sticks
Waffles
Mini pancakes
Breakfast pizza
Breakfast wraps
Fruit & yogurt parfait
Sausage patties

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Activity Time!

Plan 3 complete breakfast menus
Each menu should use a different entree option

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Offer vs Serve

Mandatory at senior high level
Optional below senior high level
Students may decline no more than 1 item at breakfast (of the 4 served)

Must take fruit

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Service Styles

Traditional (cafeteria)
Classroom
Grab n’ Go
Second chance breakfast
Vending machine (hot & cold)

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Traditional: Closest to the traditional school lunch

Classroom: Students may help deliver breakfast carts and can help with counts. Breakfast can be eaten during announcements or break. Students can get their breakfast from the cafeteria then bring it it to the classroom, breakfast can be delivered in a cart/cooler, or breakfast can be handed out outside of the classroom then have students bring in to consume.

Grab n’ Go: convenient, students can eat at a variety of places (common areas, cafeteria, classroom), carts can be located at main entrances so students can grab their breakfast on their way in

Second chance breakfast: Can be eaten in the cafeteria or be a mobile breakfast service. Very successful style for improving participation.

Vending machines: can be stocked with hot or cold food

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Challenges of School Breakfast

Traditional

Is the cafeteria available? Do students arrive early enough?

Classroom

Do teachers have time to assist serving/cleaning? Disruptive?

Grab n’ Go

Is the food pre-packaged for eating on the go?

Second chance breakfast

Does the school day include time for a meal between periods?

Vending machines

Trash left in the hallway

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By involving others throughout the school, the path toward implementing or improving a meal program will be much more successful.

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Basics of Breakfast

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Where to Find School Breakfast Resources

Making the Grade
Gordon Experience > Resources > Great for Schools > School Breakfast
Nutrition Resource Center
Food Buying Guide
USDA FNS Nutrition Programs

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Thank you.

If you have questions,

Please contact the Nutrition Resource Center at:

1.800.968.4426

nrc@gfs.com