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This story is part of a four-part series titled A Healthy Start and is sponsored by Breakfast Club of Canada, reaching 500,000 children in more than 3,000 programs in school and community settings each day.
Teachers and school volunteers can attest to the fallout of children starting the day on an empty stomach. Whether it鈥檚 a rushed morning or a scarcity of food at home that day, the consequences of skipping breakfast are evident. Just as noticeable are the benefits when kids have the opportunity to fuel up on something nutritious before tackling the day ahead.
Lindsay Cary, co-ordinator at Salem Elementary School in Sackville, N.B., says when kids are able to enjoy that all-important first meal of the day, the overall tone of the school changes for the better. The organization鈥檚 programs are available to all students in the schools where they operate, using a drop-in model for easy access.
鈥淐hildren come to the Club for many different reasons. Food insecurity is absolutely one of those reasons, but for many families, things are chaotic in the morning 鈥� maybe they overslept or had early morning hockey practice or they just like having breakfast with friends 鈥� those are all [good] reasons to attend Breakfast Club of Canada,鈥� she said.
Teachers at the school have relayed to Cary how grateful they are for the nutritious food that鈥檚 on offer each morning because of the impact it has in the classroom. She explains that hungry students may have difficulties learning and focusing, so teachers see the benefit of a healthy food program every day.
A volunteer at Salem Elementary鈥檚 breakfast program for the past six years and co-ordinator for the past three, Cary notices an uptick in children attending the program immediately following school closures, such as March Break, long weekends and especially during the pandemic when schools re-opened to in-person learning. It鈥檚 a trend she believes may signify food insecurity at home and it鈥檚 something that volunteers plan for as they prepare their breakfast offerings each week.
鈥淲e will see an uptake on how much food we鈥檙e [serving] in the morning after these school closures,鈥� she explained.
Ryan del Sol, a teacher with the Toronto District School Board, says that he鈥檚 seen the benefits of healthy snack programs and breakfast programs first-hand over his nine years of teaching. When students arrive hungry, it鈥檚 plain to see.
鈥淭he main problem is lethargy. They鈥檙e less energetic, they鈥檙e less engaged,鈥� explained del Sol.
鈥淭here have been extreme cases in schools where kids have come to my door teary-eyed, upset and angry because they鈥檙e hungry. Those are extreme situations.鈥�
When school food programs are put into the mix, he sees a big shift in a child鈥檚 ability to learn and cope throughout the day. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e happier, more engaged, less irritable. They鈥檙e more consistent across the board. It鈥檚 especially important right now with everything they鈥檝e just been through during the pandemic. Before you can move up that pyramid of learning, you have to take care of those foundational needs,鈥� del Sol said.
The healthy snack program offered mid-morning at his current school creates excitement in students as the clock ticks toward snack time. Del Sol says they eagerly anticipate what the snack might be that day. At a previous school where he taught, there was a breakfast program that had a big impact on the larger school culture.
鈥淚 always loved the breakfast program because there鈥檚 a different vibe. Kids come in early to eat together, it鈥檚 a community mindset and you get all kinds of kids coming in early to eat. It鈥檚 very impactful and you see it serving more need,鈥� del Sol explained.
For Cary, she sees school food programs as integral to her New Brunswick community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one part of that social safety net that exists for families. Just to know that your kids are getting a healthy breakfast at school is so helpful. It鈥檚 also a wonderful volunteer opportunity for family and community members.鈥�
