Millions of U.S. students are missing breakfast, denying themselves the chance to fuel greatness - inside and outside of school - B.J. Ward Elementary
Fuel Up to Play 60, the Nation's Largest In-?School Wellness Program, Launches National Effort to Help Increase School Breakfast Participation for All Students
Fuel Up to Play 60 the nation's largest in school health and wellness program, in conjunction with National School Breakfast Week (March 2-?6), launched Fuel Greatness, an effort to elevate the conversation around good nutrition and physical activity to ensure a healthy, high-? achieving generation of youth. Kicking off March 3 with a special event at B.J. Ward Elementary in Bolingbrook (Valley View District, 365-?U), the program focuses on increasing accessibility and participation in school breakfast to ensure all kids start their day with the fuel they need to help them succeed. At the event, B.J. Ward Elementary was honored by the Midwest Dairy Council for its successful integration of alternative breakfast program.
Research shows that improved nutrition, including daily breakfast, and increased physical activity can lead to improved academic performance. Eating breakfast at school can help kids be more attentive, behave better and achieve higher test scoresi, but millions of kids aren't eating this important mealii. In a recent national survey, No Kid Hungry's annual Hunger in Our Schools' report identified that more than three quarters (76 percent) of educators say that their students come to school hungry.
B.J. Ward Elementary, as well as many others throughout the Midwest region, has eliminated several of the barriers that prevent students from fueling up before they dive into school work or other activities each day. The school showcased their Breakfast in the Classroom program for special guests, including Chicago Bears center/guard Roberto Garza #63 and Julie Mikkelson, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The school's unique program features breakfast deliveries to classrooms each morning, ensuring that students begin their day with a healthy, nutritious breakfast.
Tuesday's breakfast event at B.J. Ward included Garza joining students in their classroom for breakfast and an all-?school assembly at which students could ask him questions about his breakfast favorites and how he fuels up to be his best on the field.
"Decades of research shows us that kids do better in school, on the playground and at home when they eat a healthy breakfast," said Melissa Young, vice president of health and wellness for Midwest Dairy Council. "Schools throughout the Midwest, including B.J. Ward, have made great strides toward ensuring every student has a chance to eat breakfast, and we are grateful for their initiative and creativity in driving awareness and participation."
Throughout March, schools across the country are planning school breakfast events to encourage parents, community members, thought leaders, school stakeholders and students themselves to play a part in bringing school breakfast to all kids.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Dairy Council's commitment to school health and wellness. Since 1915, the National Dairy Council has promoted nutrition education through child health and wellness programs such as Fuel Up to Play 60. Locally, the Midwest Dairy Council implements these programs, with support from Illinois's dairy farmers.
Fuel Greatness is a Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative designed to mobilize communities to advocate for and implement school breakfast models that drive participation.
For more information, or to learn more about how you can help fuel greatness in your school or community, please visit MidwestDairy.com.
About Midwest Dairy CouncilMidwest Dairy Council®, an affiliate of National Dairy Council, is the nutrition education division of Midwest Dairy Association. The Council is dedicated to dairy nutrition research and education through the investment of more than 9,100 dairy farm families across 10 Midwestern states, and is committed to child health and wellness through our collaborative program, Fuel Up to Play 60. For more information, visit www.midwestdairy.com. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook at Midwest Dairy.
About Fuel Up to Play 60Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council (NDC) and National Football League (NFL), with additional partnership support from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. Customizable and non-prescriptive program components are grounded in research with youth, including tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website and student challenges. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association.
Visit FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more.
3.11.2015