Importance of Breakfast Delaware K5 Breakfast Challenge Andrea

Importance of Breakfast & Delaware K-5 Breakfast Challenge Andrea Solge, RD Kendall Di. Lorenzo, MS, RD

The Facts • 1 out of 5 American kids struggle with hunger • 3 out of 5 teachers say they teach kids who regularly come to school hungry • 18. 3% of children in Delaware experiencing food insecurity About Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign. http: //www. nokidhungry. org/pdfs/school-breakfast-white-paper. pdf & http: //www. nokidhungry. org/problem/hunger-facts

Importance of Breakfast • Breakfast – “Break the fast” – is the most important meal of the day • Your body fasts all night and uses the energy stored up from the day while you are sleeping • Think about a car with no gas – that is exactly how your body is in the morning! • Eating a healthy breakfast gives your body the necessary fuel to get the day started and focus on school work

Importance of Breakfast Participation • School breakfast is the best solution to combat child hunger and directly increase a student’s mental and physical performance in the classroom 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Academic Success

Students Who Eat Breakfast… • …have increased cognitive function, attention span and school performance • …have decreased discipline problems, absenteeism and tardiness • …are more likely to have a decreased BMI and maintain a healthy BMI About Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign. http: //www. nokidhungry. org/pdfs/school-breakfast-white-paper. pdf & http: //www. nokidhungry. org/problem/hunger-facts

Students Who Eat Breakfast… • …attend 1. 5 more days of school annually, score 17. 5% higher on math tests, and are less likely to have disciplinary issues • …see fewer vitamin deficiencies • …are less likely to experience chronic illness About Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign. http: //www. nokidhungry. org/pdfs/school-breakfast-white-paper. pdf & http: //www. nokidhungry. org/problem/hunger-facts

School Breakfast Changes Lives • The impact of eating breakfast regularly has potential long-term economic benefits – Student who attend class more regularly are 20% more likely to graduate from high school – High school graduates typically earn $10, 090 more per year and enjoy a 4% higher employment rate About Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign. http: //www. nokidhungry. org/pdfs/school-breakfast-white-paper. pdf & http: //www. nokidhungry. org/problem/hunger-facts