Ever hear the saying, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day?” According to the USDA, 93 percent of Americans say breakfast is the most important meal, but only 44 percent actually eat it on a regular basis.
“When you think of the word breakfast, you’re breaking the fast from the night you had before where you’ve had no nutrients,” nutritionist Kris Diller said. “When you get up in the morning you’re basically running on empty and, with students especially, it’s harder to concentrate. You lose the concentration of what you’re trying to do.”
Eating a healthy breakfast can help people perform at their very best throughout the day, but kids and teens are the ones who need it the most. Their bodies and brains are still developing, so refueling often is a must.
“It’s hard to get breakfast in the morning especially when you’re short on time,” Orono eighth grader Audra McKenzie said.
Even though it’s hard to fit it into everyone’s schedule, making sure to eat something can actually save people time because they’ll be more efficient with everything they do throughout the day.
According to the Orono newsletter, “The importance of eating a nutritious breakfast to fuel learning is well documented. But busy schedules don’t always accommodate that positive behavior.”
In response to this problem, Orono Middle School started a breakfast program on April 6. This program provides breakfast each day for the rest of the 2014-2015 school year.
It’s held from 7:30 a.m. to 7:53 a.m. at the ala carte window in the cafeteria. They serve a full breakfast meal called a “Breakfast Bento” and a variety of other healthy foods. These foods include: fresh fruit, bakery fresh bagels, smoothies, greek yogurt, uncrustables and much more.
A “Breakfast Bento” box is priced at $1.80. Each week rotates through a different meal. The meal of the week could either be a warm, cheesy egg sandwich, a bagel and peanut butter with apple slices, or a whole grain breakfast long john and egg bento. The box includes a cup of fruit and a carton of milk as well.
The breakfast program offers gluten free options as well, so people with gluten allergies can enjoy breakfast in the morning too. Some foods that they offer are delicious cosmic fruit smoothie or a juice box. For the breakfast bento box, students can substitute for a gluten free muffin or bagel.
Other items at ala carte are priced differently, and any student who wants breakfast can qualify.
“Students who qualify for free and reduced-priced meals will not be charged. Students must have money in their meal account to purchase a la carte items,” the Orono newsletter said.
“I think it’s a good idea especially for testing,” Orono eighth grader Jordan Case said.
Studies have shown that schools with breakfast programs can actually improve test scores, decrease tardiness, and improve classroom attentiveness and behavior overall.
“I was standing next to one of the kids and she said, ‘I should probably get something.’ and I asked her, ‘Well, have you eaten anything yet?’ and she said, ‘Oh I just had something out of my Easter basket,” Diller said. “She did get a whole breakfast, and that makes our day. As many students as we can change from having a chocolate Easter egg for breakfast to having a bagel and some fruit really is what we’re all about. We just want to see kids eating healthy and getting the nourishment they need.”
