by Analisa Sorrells |
For the almost 400,000 students across North Carolina who eat school breakfast, it is far more than a meal; it provides the opportunity to start the day with a full stomach and a focused brain. The importance of school breakfast and other school nutrition programs as instructional interventions were discussed at the 7th annual NC Child Hunger Leaders Conference hosted by No Kid Hungry NC on Thursday.
Research supports the benefits of school breakfast, showing that children who eat it are more likely to attend school, be better learners and participate in the classroom. Beyond alleviating absenteeism and increasing academic performance, participation in school breakfast programs is also associated with a decrease in behavioral problems.