BELLOWS FALLS — Many students say there just isn't enough time in their morning to get the nutrition and energy they need from a good breakfast.
Bellows Falls Middle and High Schools are looking to correct that problem. The two schools have received a combined grant totaling more than $3,700 from the New England Dairy & Food Council.
According to a news release, the “Fuel Up to Play 60” funding will support the purchase of new equipment needed for their expanded breakfast programs at each school. Funding is made possible by the dairy farming families of Vermont and New England.
“Our WNESU Farm to School Café mission is to create great food experiences that nourish our community and inspire lifelong healthy eating and engagement with food,” said Harley Sterling, School Nutrition Director for the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union. “Providing our students with increased access to a nutritious breakfast encompasses our mission.”
Sterling said Bellows Falls Union High School will purchase a new food cart and implement a new Grab and Go Breakfast program. This will allow students to grab healthy breakfast options on their way to early classes.
At Bellows Falls Middle School, Grab and Go Breakfast options will be expanded, giving students even more access to nutritious meal options to start their days including milk, fresh fruits, smoothies, and more.
Research shows that stigma, schedule, age, and social competition are key factors that have a negative impact on breakfast participation. Offering both “Grab and Go” and “Breakfast After the Bell” meal models address these four factors, allowing for increased student participation.
Jill Hussels, Vermont Nutrition Specialist with the New England Dairy & Food Council, said “the biggest improvements we consistently see in school breakfast participation happen when the morning meal is offered after the bell.”
Hussels added that making school breakfasts available to all students “helps level the playing field for students, and leads to increased attendance, improved test score results, and fewer trips to the school nurse.”
The New England Dairy & Food Council provided Fuel Up to Play 60 grants to nearly 20 schools in Vermont in 2017, and dairy farm families of Vermont have contributed more than $175,000 to school breakfast and lunch programs over the last five years throughout the state. For information, visit newenglanddairycouncil.org.