Michigan Team Nutrition Boost Breakfast Initiative Increases Breakfast Participation

Abstract

To encourage schools to increase the number of students participating in school breakfast. In 2013, a Michigan “First Fuel” Breakfast Challenge was issued to have at least 60% of National School Lunch Program participants also participate in the School Breakfast Program. In the 2008-2009 school year, only 42.5% school lunch participants participated in school breakfast. Michigan Team Nutrition sought to increase participation by implementing the following activities, convened statewide strategic partners; developed a http://boostbreakfast.com/ website, toolkit, and online training; conducted statewide “Boost Breakfast” trainings targeting over 800 food service professionals and school administrators; engaged students through a statewide Junior Chef Breakfast Competition; completed a portfolio of 20 success stories in video and print; and promoted successes through social networking websites. In 2015, the number of school breakfasts increased to 48.5 students for every 100 students in school lunch. A total of 1,076 schools were successful in increasing their breakfast participation to 60%. Of these, 406 schools not only met the challenge goal, but doubled their breakfast participation numbers or met 100% participation as well. Overall, this translated to an additional 3 million school breakfasts being served. Increasing statewide breakfast participation numbers is challenging. A multi-pronged, collaborative, school by school effort is required to increase participation. Other states should consider modifying Michigan Team Nutrition boost breakfast intervention materials found at http://boostbreakfast.com/ in order to promote breakfast participation.