This past fall my twins entered Kindergarten. There are so many worries for a parent as you send your children off to school for the first time. Are they safe? Are they learning? Are they making friends? Are they getting enough food throughout the day?
My kids are constantly hungry like most growing six year olds. They are also early risers so there are days when one breakfast isn’t enough. As I learned more about the food service program at their school, I learned that Huron Valley Schools serve breakfast daily. What a relief as a mom to know that if they didn’t get enough breakfast or any at home, they can at school.
The days that my twins have breakfast at school, they come home talking about who they ate with that day and funny stories about their friends. It’s a special time for my kids to interact with classmates before the day of learning starts. It makes me feel great that they are ready to learn after a healthy breakfast.
As a former teacher, I know that unfortunately not every family has the funds to provide three meals a day for their families. The State of Michigan provides free and reduced breakfast and lunch options for those families. Every child deserves to start on an equal playing field when it comes to education, and breakfast at school can help.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is helping to bring not only healthy breakfast options but physical activity programs to area schools. Launched by National Dairy Council and NFL in collaboration with the USDA, Fuel Up to Play 60 promotes healthy eating habits along with encouraging 60 minutes of play and exercise every day at local schools. In fact, they just announced they are offering $35 million in grants aimed at helping schools update or upgrade their existing kitchen equipment, together with the USDA, GENYOUth Foundation and the NFL. The program is also involved in fun events hosted at local schools such as the one at the beginning of March at Flint’s Northwest High School. Fuel Up to Play 60 co-hosted a breakfast event and served breakfast smoothies to the students.
Find out more about Fuel Up to Play 60:
Visit www.FuelUpToPlay60.com to find out if your school is enrolled in the program. No breakfast option in your school? The Playbook references alternative breakfast options such as Breakfast – Anytime, Anywhere, Second Chance Breakfast and Grab and Go can help you to encourage your school to start!
Join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram. Follow #FuelGreatness
Check out other fun ways Fuel Up to Play 60 is celebrating breakfast time like this creative stop-motion video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J81sIjaUH-Q
I was compensated for this article. All my options are my own.
