Do you Fuel Up your kids in the morning? I can definitely tell how a well-balanced breakfast helps my kids in their school day, but making a nutritious breakfast every morning is much easier said than done, would you agree?
In a single morning I, one person, have to help three little people get dressed. One three year old who fights any action that doesn’t involve cars, trains or drums and a seven year old who wants me to pick out her clothes but then when I pick the wrong thing it devastates her to her core and she can’t get off her bed for 20 minutes. We have backpacks, lunches, snacks, popcorn money for school spirit day, a TP roll for a science project, signed permission form for the field trip, signed reading forms and ALL the snow stuff: hats, gloves, boots (shoes in the backpack), snow pants, coats, scarves, and you can count on someone ALWAYS losing something.
Where is the healthy breakfast in this crazy morning? I’m not really sure!
With the exhaustion of this morning routine every day I am thrilled to hear about National Dairy Council and the NFL’s Fuel Up to Play 60 program – an in-school health and wellness program launched in collaboration with the USDA to help kids live healthier lives. Any help getting a healthy breakfast into my kids’ tummies is much appreciated!
Studies have shown that kids who have a healthy breakfast have improved academic performance but three out of four K-8 public school teachers report that students regularly come to school hungry.*
Many schools, like our own, have a breakfast program in place but many families aren’t taking advantage of them. Families are unaware of the programs, kids don’t have enough time to eat, buses get to school too late or, in some cases, there is a social stigma attached to having breakfast at school. Whatever the reason may be, these programs need more awareness so our kids can truly benefit the wonderful programs they have available.
Fuel Up to Play 60 supports schools by giving them new and fresh ideas on how to incorporate breakfast into the school day with the Grab and Go Breakfast and Breakfast in the Classroom programs. The program also aids in spreading the word to families about these new breakfast options and also helps schools with funding.
For more information or to get your school involved check out www.FuelUpToPlay60.com or join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and share how you Fuel for Greatness using #FuelGreatness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuZew9z4ZUQ
I was compensated for this article. All opinions are my own.
*“Hunger In Our Schools.” 1st ed. Washington: No Kid Hungry, 2015. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.
