by Triada Stampas

No child should spend his or her school day hungry. But too many New York City children living at or just above the poverty level start their day without a nutritious meal. Food Bank For New York City is working to change this reality by tackling the dual barriers of stigma and poor scheduling that keep participation in New York City’s school breakfast program low — only 21 percent of students participate. The Food Bank’s community outreach team is going school to school, reaching out to parents, principals, community groups and members of the City Council to raise awareness about the availability and benefits of school breakfast, and encouraging schools in low-income neighborhoods to offer breakfast options that are accessible to every child who needs them.

Research shows that children who eat breakfast perform better in school, are less likely to be late or absent, have fewer disciplinary problems and need fewer visits to the school nurse. While New York City public schools offer free breakfast to all students, the traditional breakfast service — in the cafeteria a half hour before school starts — isolates and segregates the low-income students who participate and is inconveniently scheduled for many families. The Food Bank encourages alternatives for schools and community members to overcome these barriers, like grab-and-go meals and in-classroom breakfast, which has proven highly successful in other cities.

Originally featured in Food For Thought Spring 2009, the Food Bank’s print newsletter.