The Need For Breakfast Clubs

99% of our students are well fed.

This was the response I received from a principal when I spoke with them about the need for breakfast clubs within our city, an initiative taken on as one of my goals for 2009 (to ensure every student in Port Colborne has access to a nutritional breakfast). Their response made me pause and after much reflection this has only strengthened my resolve to achieve my goal. I may not have reached the level of education they have achieved but I think I might be able to educate people on this issue.

Sadly, a number of people are in denial that there is an issue. Maybe if they ignore it, it was never there. Ignorance is bliss I guess. Having been brought up a background of serving others I realized at a young age you never know who the needy are. Most people in this country are only a paycheque or two away from poverty. The need is there whether we see it or not.

Also, many do not see the full picture when it comes to breakfast clubs. There is more to a breakfast club than feeding students who are not well fed (although this does rank high on the list). According to the Canadian Public Health Officer Report for 2008 31% of elementary students do not eat a nutritious breakfast daily. These numbers double to 62% when it comes to high school students!

To be sure, there are many reasons why a student may not have had breakfast. People running late, just plain forgetting, and not having food in the cupboards are just three. Of course, even those who have had breakfast might as well have skipped it with the proliferation of sugar laden breakfast items. Sugar may give one a short burst of energy but it is usually followed by a crash. We should be showing students that a good nutritional breakfast can give them energy that lasts right through to lunchtime. Research shows that children who have a nutritious breakfast show improvement in many areas of school, such being more likely to show up for school and being more attentive when they get there! Not to mention a cut back on sugar can result in lower occurrence of hyperactivity.

In an exchange with another principal who informed me that there was no need for a breakfast program at their school I stated, "Education should not begin and end at the three R's. Breakfast clubs teaches students that eating healthy is not only good for you, it can be a great tasting meal and far from boring!"

There are so many healthy choices that kids do not realize they love until they try it. I have lost count the number of children who have asked, "what is this?" when they try something they have never seen before. Does anyone else think it odd having to tell a student what a kiwi is? We have an opportunity to really educate them in a time where obesity rates are rapidly increasing towards epidemic proportions!

To be fair, I understand the running a breakfast club can be a long arduous task that is not in the job description of principals or teachers. Having said that however, it is a task that is well worth the effort when you see the smiles on the student's faces. It gives students a chance to see their teachers in a different light.

In addition to the educational aspect of the breakfast club there is the social aspect of the club. Many clubs have their breakfast in common area and when the students come to eat it provides them an opportunity to interact with students that they may not know or do not come into contact with very often. In this electronic age of instant messaging and texting, face to face contact is a social skill being eroded. Anytime you can get people together in a social setting is another good opportunity for learning about others and how to interact with them.

Furthermore, having a breakfast club also shows a school has an interest and cares about the community in which they are located. It also gives the community a chance to show how it cares for each other. Is that not a great lesson for students to learn at an early age?

This is not an exhaustive list of reasons for having a breakfast club in your school but do you really need another?

So you see, a breakfast club is not just about feeding needy students. It is about expanding upon the education they receive at school.

In most schools all it takes is one person to be the champion for a breakfast club.

Why not you?

The Need For Breakfast Clubs