Here in Peterborough and county, students can start their morning with breakfast at school. Foods like fresh fruit and vegetables, hot and cold cereals, milk, cheese, muffins, and yogurt are served. Programs are free, accessible and welcoming to ALL students at participating schools.
Children arrive at school hungry for many reasons: long bus rides, rushed mornings, skipped breakfast, and sometimes, not enough food at home.
School breakfast programs do more than fill empty tummies. They can impact our children’s health, marks, and social skills.
Students learn what a healthy breakfast can look like. Eating breakfast promotes a healthy body weight and reduces risk for disease.
Teachers notice when students start their day with a good breakfast. Children are more alert and better able to pay attention and process information. They show better memory and problem solving skills. Schools with breakfast programs report better attendance and less behaviour issues during the school day.
Positive social skills are also a big part of each morning. “Good morning”, “please” and “thank-you’s” are often heard between students and volunteers.
In Peterborough and County, breakfast programs served almost 2.4 million meals last year! Forty-seven of our 52 publically funded schools fed 17,638 students. Programs were possible because of 1256 dedicated volunteers and the generosity of our community.
Breakfast programs contribute to our students' health, and academic and personal success. Have an hour a week? Contact your local school or visit pcchu.ca/ffk and volunteer with a program.
We all win when our children succeed!
Many thanks to Luisa Magalhaes, a Public Health Nutritionist with the Peterborough County-City Health Unit, for submitting this article.
