Breakfast Program Information
The School Breakfast Program is a federally assisted meal program that operates in public and private schools in Wisconsin. Many different types of schools serve breakfast, elementary through high school, rural and urban. The School Breakfast Program operates very similarly to the School Lunch Program. Both programs allow children to qualify for free or reduced priced meals, based on their family’s income.
Facts About Breakfast:
• Not all students eat breakfast at home due to lack of time or they may not be hungry.
• Middle and high school students are less likely to eat breakfast than elementary school students.
• Nationally, 16% of school-aged children do not eat breakfast and in smaller Wisconsin studies it is estimated that between 10-30% of students do not eat breakfast on any given day.
Benefits of Breakfast:
Breakfast improves the quality of childrens' diets, enhances academic performance, improves student behavior and improves the learning environment in school. All students have the opportunity to have warm entrees for breakfast. The menu is set up on a 5 week menu cycle and can be viewed on the Breakfast & Lunch Program / Menus page. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity for their child if time is a factor in the morning.
Required Nutritional Quantities:
Breakfast must contain ¼ of a child’s daily requirement for calories, protein. Calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin C. No more than 30% of calories can come from fat, with no more than 10% of calories as saturated fat.
Generally breakfast contains a serving of milk, fruit or fruit juice, and 2 servings from the grains or meat/meat alternate group (1 serving from each).
Eligibility:
All students are able to purchase a meal as part of the School Breakfast Program. Students eligible for free or reduced lunch are automatically approved for free or reduced breakfast. Parents are required to complete the free and reduced application every year.
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