DES MOINES – Students who eat a healthy breakfast are more likely to pay attention and excel in school, research shows. But thousands of students are starting the school day with an empty stomach, according to a new survey from the Iowa Department of Education and the University of Iowa.
The survey of nearly 9,000 Iowa parents shows almost one-third reported their children sometimes or never eat breakfast. This is despite a school breakfast program available to all Iowa students through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Department of Education.
This week, which is National School Breakfast Week, the Iowa Department of Education is encouraging Iowa schools to raise awareness of their breakfast programs and to remind their communities that a healthy breakfast sets up students for a day of learning.
“We know that healthy, active kids are more successful in the classroom, and good nutrition, including breakfast, is a key component,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck.
Most Iowa students do not eat breakfast at school. Iowa Department of Education data show more than 80 percent of students did not participate in school breakfast programs in the 2013-14 school year. Iowa also ranks 48th in the nation for the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals who eat breakfast at school (40.1 percent).
The Department teamed up with the University of Iowa Public Policy Center and the University of Iowa College of Public Health on the parent survey to find out why school breakfast participation rates are low.
Ninety percent of parents who responded to the survey said they are aware their children’s schools serve breakfast. The most common reason reported for not taking advantage of the school breakfast option was that children prefer to eat breakfast at home. However, 31 percent of the surveyed parents acknowledged their children sometimes or never eat breakfast at all.
Studies show students who eat breakfast at school have higher math and reading scores, better cognitive speed and memory, and perform better on standardized tests than students who skip breakfast or eat at home.
In recognition of National School Breakfast Week, whose theme is “Make the Grade with School Breakfast,” Iowa schools are encouraged to feature special menus, decorate the cafeteria and consider alternative models for serving breakfast. For example, some schools offer breakfast in the classroom or a “second-chance” breakfast later in the morning. Miller Middle School in Marshalltown, for example, offers two “grab-and-go” breakfast options at 8:30 a.m. and 9:40 a.m.
“Making school breakfast an easy and convenient option is essential to increase participation,” said Ann Feilmann, bureau chief of food and nutrition at the Iowa Department of Education.
