Release No. FNS 0001

Contact: Keith Williams  202-720-4623
Jack Currie  703-305-2281

Agriculture Secretary Marks School Breakfast Week

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2008 ― Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today marked National School Breakfast Week by emphasizing how important it is for children to begin each day with a nutritious breakfast.

“Starting the day with healthy nutrition helps children stay alert and perform better in school,” Schafer said. “That’s why USDA strives to ensure that every child has access to a healthy breakfast through the School Breakfast Program.”

Each year USDA, in partnership with the School Nutrition Association, recognizes National School Breakfast Week to highlight the benefits of the School Breakfast Program. USDA’s School Breakfast Program provides nutritious breakfasts to nearly 10 million school children each school day in over 84,000 public and private schools to help children begin the school day ready to learn. The program began as a pilot program in 1966, serving 80,000 children.

“The School Breakfast Program has grown steadily over the years,” said USDA Under Secretary Nancy Johner. “However, the challenge for schools today is to increase participation by making breakfast accessible to children.”

Johner noted that schools participating in the USDA’s School Breakfast Program can offer children breakfast in a variety of creative ways, including traditional breakfast, breakfast in the classroom, and a grab-and-go option. These and other ideas can be found in USDA’s School Breakfast Toolkit, available free online at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/breakfast/toolkit/Default.htm.

Any child at a participating school may purchase a meal through the School Breakfast Program. Children from families with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty level ($26,845 for a family of four for school year 2007-2008) are eligible for free meals. Those with higher incomes may be eligible for reduced-price meals.

The President's fiscal year 09 Budget request includes $64.1 billion for USDA nutrition-assistance programs — an 87 percent increase since 2001. Nutrition assistance programs now represent over 66 percent of the USDA budget.

Eating a nutritious diet, making healthy choices, being physically active every day, and getting preventative health screening are the four pillars that make up President Bush's HealthierUS initiative to help Americans live longer, better, and healthier lives. For more information on USDA nutrition programs visit http://www.usda.gov.

Last modified: 12/05/2008