School breakfast for me growing up meant either scrambled eggs and toast sitting down at home or peanut butter spread on toast, wrapped up in tinfoil and thrown into my book bag on the way out the door. My parents always stressed the importance of eating before school to fuel myself for the long day ahead. While their constant reminders worked for the most part, there were days when I skipped breakfast. On the days I skipped breakfast, whether it was at age 15, 19, or 23, I became what is commonly referred to amongst my peers as, "hangry" by 11:30 am. Generally speaking, I become a less productive version of myself without breakfast. That is why I am working to increase awareness and participation in School Breakfast Programs. If students begin their day at 7:30am and aren't eating until 12:15pm, by the time 11:30 am rolls around, they-just like me-are less productive versions of themselves. The School Breakfast program is a largely untapped and underutilized resource that functions twofold: it helps students be more engaged and productive in the classroom and serves as a reminder that eating nutritious and balanced meals should be a part of one's daily routine. While providing a nutritious breakfast won't directly make students pass their pre-Algebra or Biology courses, it offers them a chance to reach their respective potentials. When framed as such the significance of increasing awareness and participation in School Breakfast Program is second to none.
-Samantha Bennett
-Samantha Bennett