Teachers and volunteers see benefits of breakfast and snack programs

Teachers and school volunteers can attest to the fallout of children starting the day on an empty stomach. Whether it’s a rushed morning or a scarcity of food at home that day, the consequences of skipping breakfast are evident.

This story is part of a four-part series titled A Healthy Start and is sponsored by Breakfast Club of Canada, reaching 500,000 children in more than 3,000 programs in school and community settings each day.

Teachers and school volunteers can attest to the fallout of children starting the day on an empty stomach. Whether it’s a rushed morning or a scarcity of food at home that day, the consequences of skipping breakfast are evident. Just as noticeable are the benefits when kids have the opportunity to fuel up on something nutritious before tackling the day ahead.

Lindsay Cary, Breakfast Club of Canada co-ordinator at Salem Elementary School in Sackville, N.B., says when kids are able to enjoy that all-important first meal of the day, the overall tone of the school changes for the better. The organization’s programs are available to all students in the schools where they operate, using a drop-in model for easy access.