Aramark, a leading provider of school food and nutrition services to more than 3,000 K-12 schools, joins school districts throughout the country in celebrating National School Breakfast Week (NSBW), March 3 to 7, 2014. Sponsored by the School Nutrition Association, NSBW highlights the proven benefits to students who eat breakfast at school including increased classroom participation, higher test scores, greater focus and decreased likelihood of obesity.
This year's theme - "Take Time for School Breakfast" - focuses on the significance of offering students breakfast options that accommodate their busy schedules and hectic morning routines. Whether running for the bus or making time to socialize with friends, today's students are busier than ever, according to the release. In fact, according to Student ViewPoint™, Aramark's proprietary research, 32 percent of students surveyed cited not having enough time before class to eat breakfast at school. Yet, 50 percent of students surveyed say they would eat breakfast if offered from a cart or in the classroom.
"Our top priority is to ensure that students have nutritious meals to start their day so they are well nourished and ready to learn," said Jeff Gilliam, president, Aramark Education, in a prepared statement. "We work closely with our school district partners to find the best solution to meet the changing needs and schedules of students. In many districts, we've added mobile breakfast offerings that have significantly increased student participation."
Aramark has developed several breakfast delivery options to help students receive the nutrients they need to excel during the day, including Breakfast Carts in high traffic areas which enable students to grab a nutritious, healthy breakfast on the way to their first class; Breakfast in the Classroom which conveniently delivers nutritious breakfasts to students right at their desks; and the traditional Breakfast in the Cafeteria with hot and cold meal options served in convenient breakfast bags in the cafeteria setting.
Portability is a growing trend throughout many districts. In the past several years, Aramark has seen a marked increase in the number of school districts successfully implementing Breakfast Carts and/or the Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) programs. For example, the Chicago Public Schools district has increased the number of Breakfast Carts in high schools across the city. At Lindblom Math and Science Academy High School, the number of students participating in the breakfast program increased by more than 300 percent in just three months since breakfast carts were added.
