By

Erica Phelps,   Lakeshore Middle School

Play:

Breakfast For Everyone — First Meal Matters

Topics:

Access to Healthy Foods, Student Leadership, Success with Funds,  Teamwork

The 2017-18 Fuel Up to Play 60 student team learned that only 3% of students were eating breakfast at school. They also learned that over 30% were eligible for free/reduced breakfast. It was determined that the time of bus drop off and the location of the cafeteria may be part of the problem. The team worked with advisors and the foodservice director to determine solutions. They assisted with a funding application that was approved for a mobile breakfast cart. The 2018-19 team worked with foodservice and administrative staff to determine possible barriers to success. The team successfully launched the cart in January 2019. They are very proud of the fact that close to 11% of kids are eating breakfast at school now! We started with twice weekly using the cart and in the cafeteria the other 3 days. We are now up to 3 days with the cart (by foodservice staff request!). The plan in everyday in Fall 2019!

How did students and adults work together as a team?

Our student team met and listened to concerns from principals and foodservice staff before implementing the breakfast cart. They worked with teachers to identify 'articles of the week' for students to read about the importance of breakfast. Others worked with teachers to develop student surveys for food preferences.

How do you plan to make this Play last during the school year and beyond?

As noted above, we have foodservice wanting to do this every day in 2019! Funding helped us purchase the cart and we are able to sustain it!

How did you accomplish your goals?

Driven student leaders and supportive administration made this a success. The students chose shifts to help promote the cart and encourage participation. They created announcements , drafted parent emails, and created a video to promote the breakfast cart.