Schools Offer Free Breakfast
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Attention, hurried parents of Moore County Schools students. We have two words to make next week easier for you: "free breakfast."
As part of National School Breakfast Week from March 4-8, the school system is going to ease the morning madness by offering free breakfasts for all enrolled students.
Moore County Schools Child Nutrition Director Amanda Cagle said the initiative is designed to increase participation in the school breakfast program.
"What we hope to do is to introduce more students to our morning breakfasts, which ordinarily would cost $1 for those students not in the free and reduced food program," Cagle said. "This is a great opportunity for students who might not normally eat breakfast at school to make a good, healthy start to their day."
Chief Finance Officer Mike Griffin said that promoting the connection between a student's breakfast and school performance was the primary reason for the free meal offer.
"Research has shown that kids are more receptive to learning when they are not hungry," Griffin said.
Cagle said that a "stigma" against school breakfasts was another reason for the promotion.
"Some people believe that breakfast at school is only for those students who are on a free and reduced meal plan, but that isn't true at all," she said. "We have a number of paying students who take advantage of this inexpensive breakfast option.
"There is an assumption among some people that breakfast at school is always associated with students who can't afford to pay, and we would like to change that perception."
Schools will be closed for a teacher workday on Wednesday, but other days will feature whole grain pancakes, omelets, French toast and whole grain turnovers as breakfast fare. Yogurt, granola, fruits and cereals will also be served along with skim milk and juice.
"We have two breakfast plans in the system, the traditional breakfast served at most schools, and the 'Grab N Go' meals that are offered at Aberdeen Elementary, Robbins Elementary and Southern Pines Elementary," Cagle said. "The free breakfasts will follow this same format."
Griffin said that while some money will be lost by offering the free breakfasts, the cost is "worth it."
"We generate about $300 per day in breakfast sales, so the week will probably cost the system about $2,000," he said. "We consider this an investment in providing students the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of healthy eating."
Cagle said the school system serves breakfast to about 2,500 students per day.
Breakfast times vary by school, Cagle said. Contact your child's school for more information.
Contact John Lentz at (910) 693-2479 or jlentz@thepilot. com.
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Comments
irishman 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Nothing is ever "free", how about a tax subsidized breakfast, courtesy of those not paying their fair share!
teufelhunden 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Get your butts outta bed earlier and make your children breakfast. And while you're at it, pack their lunch too!!!
emb6683 2 months, 3 weeks ago
"And while you're at it, pack their lunch too!!!"
But be careful, if the lunch you pack doesn;t include all of the mandated food groups, or has something deemed unhealthy, it will be confiscated by the food police and your child will be made to buy a nutritious lunch from the school. See incident last year in Raeford.
vikingmom 2 months, 3 weeks ago
This is all fine and good, however as a mom to a student at Union Pines, who rarely eats lunch because they run out of food before she can get in line, I truly hope that they will have an abundance so that all that choses to participate is able to eat...
native 2 months, 3 weeks ago
I thought we went into sequester today?
Middle_of_the_road 2 months, 3 weeks ago
"Cagle said the school system serves breakfast to about 2,500 students per day"
Now if breakfast costs $1 per student for those who dont receive the discounted rate or free breakfast and they are only making $300 per day on breakfast, it appears the parents who are paying the $1 is only a small fraction.
Don't get me wrong, I am all about promoting a better learning enviroment for all kids, but am I the only one who finds this percentage odd?
Toda 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Pawn the iPods...
Toda 2 months, 2 weeks ago
... And while some of you Hippocrates are riding your high horses, try what Congress should do for 6 months, live on the generous minimum wage of $7.25 an hour before TAXES! Your horse will die of starvation and you'll fall on your bigotry a$$.
Pinehurst_Nurse 2 months, 2 weeks ago
I have to agree with Toda here as well!
Themis 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Me Three Toda - How do we stop it? I mean keeping the money here for our poor?
trintrin 2 months, 2 weeks ago
How dare we use taxpayer money to feed children!
Toda 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Themis stop voting the small mindless politicians in office - set terms! The Office of the Presidency is two 4 year terms...so what's wrong with limiting the rest of career politicians ingrained in pork money and lobbyist payola.
Here in the good old US of A, children from poor families have to endure the psychological stress of attending public schools and having to ask for a handout. Doesn't anyone realize how traumatic this can be to young minds?
What I think is that those who are so condemning should perform an exercise in judgement:
Now complain!