Free Breakfast Research Articles

Wi‐fi and waffles! Bacon and #hashtags! ‘Peas’ be with you! Yam it up!

As this column was coming due, I was on a road trip from Pennsylvania to Florida, and Interstate 95 was speckled with attention‐grabbing billboards, including the clever messages I led with: two for hotels ­advertising a free hot breakfast and the two others promoting a brand of canned black‐eyed peas and yams. Perhaps my favorites — and the most enticing — were for South of the Border, Georgia Peach World, and Florida Citrus Center, all of which led my husband and me to exit the highway for kitschy gifts and local flavor.

Suicide Risk and Resiliency Factors Among Hispanic Teens in New Mexico: Schools Can Make a Difference.

Youth suicide is a serious public health problem in the United States. School environments, and the attention of school adults, are promising but minimally studied avenues for promoting mental health among students. The 2013 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey data were analyzed to identify ways in which the school environment influences suicide attempts in a sample of Hispanic students. Factors examined were: relationships with school adults, speaking a language other than English at home, being born outside the United States and not having enough to eat. Odds ratios were used to measure relationships. Factors influencing suicide attempt were similar for boys and girls. The odds of suicide attempt declined by approximately one third as measures of positive relationships with school adults increased. Post-high school education plans also were protective. Being born outside the United States and not having enough to eat increased the odds of past-year suicide attempt. Speaking a language other than English at home was a weak risk factor for suicide attempt only among Hispanic girls. Teachers and other school adults can decrease suicide risk for Hispanic teens by forming supportive relationships with students. Special consideration should be given to providing free breakfast in schools.

Behavioral Economics and the Service Organization

This note summarizes some important learnings from the study of behavioral economics of which service organizations should be aware in order to enhance customers' emotional experiences and help direct their decision making—in an ethical manner. Excerpt UVA-OM-1548 Dec. 20, 2017 Behavioral Economics and the Service Organization Imagine you are searching online for an island beach vacation for your family this winter. You notice an ad for an all-inclusive resort with a 65% off special. You click the link and the pictures of smiling people running barefoot on the beach and the site's background reggae music transport your senses. You call and the incredibly friendly sales agent asks for your name and teases you with the current weather and the ocean temperatures, but then informs you that the special deal is not available during the dates you are interested in. Not to worry, she says, because there are several other choices that week, including another great package running at 25% off, though that one doesn't include complimentary breakfast. She mentions that this is the most popular package for guests in your situation. It still is 25% off, you figure. Near the end of the call, you are considering your choices. The agent searches a bit more and realizes she can offer you the free breakfast after all. You are overjoyed and decide to book the 25% off deal! Count another win for behavioral economics (BE), which uses psychological testing to determine typical biases people have that can drive their decision making. In the perfect world of classical economic theory, we would not alter our decisions based on the framing of options, the choices of others, or the order of the service experience. We would weigh the costs and benefits rationally and choose the optimal value. But we don't—at least, not all the time. Our emotions often guide us in ways we can't even articulate, or we make snap decisions based on rules of thumb—cognitive shortcuts called heuristics. This note summarizes some of the important learnings from the study of BE of which service organizations should be aware in order to enhance customers' emotional experiences and help direct their decision making—in an ethical manner. The Beginnings of Behavioral Economics . . .

Mineral availability is modified by tannin and phytate content in sorghum flaked breakfast cereals

Mineral availability from sorghum grain in some varieties may be low because of the presence of phytates and tannins. However, heat processing of sorghum may lower tannin and phytate levels and thus improve mineral availability. Sorghum has potential in the manufacture of gluten free breakfast cereals, therefore flaked breakfast cereals were manufactured from whole grains of three contrasting sorghum varieties and compared to that manufactured from whole grain wheat. The content of tannin, phytate, minerals (Ca, Fe and Zn), in vitro mineral availability and phytate: mineral molar ratios were determined in the raw whole grain flours and the cooked flaked breakfast cereal. For all grain varieties, the in vitro mineral availability of flaked breakfast cereal was higher than the raw flours, an effect most probably related to the concomitant reduction in tannins and phytate levels after processing. The in vitro mineral availability of the flaked wheat breakfast cereal was significantly higher than that of all sorghum breakfast cereals, with that manufactured from the brown sorghum IS8237C having the lowest value (p≤0.05). Given that the sorghum varieties in this study gave lower mineral availability than wheat, other sorghum varieties now require evaluation to identify those with improved mineral availability.

Breakfast and beyond: the dietary, social and practical impacts of a universal free school breakfast scheme in the north west of England, UK.

Breakfast is widely recognized as the most important meal of the day due to the numerous benefits associated with breakfast consumption including healthy weight maintenance and greater nutrient intake. In an effort to promote healthy breakfast habits, many schools provide breakfast to children before the start of the formal school day. At present, a government-supported scheme is being rolled out to increase the number of school breakfast clubs available to children across the UK; however, few research studies have investigated the impact of school breakfast provision within this country. The current study aimed to address this issue by gaging the views of parents, children and school staff on a universal free breakfast scheme in the North West of England, UK. Interviews revealed that school breakfast has the potential to influence outcomes beyond diet, including social relationships, punctuality and academic performance.

“Feeding the Revolution”: the Black Panther Party, Hunger, and Community Survival

This article situates concerns of hunger and food access at the center of Black Panther Party efforts to organize poor black communities in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Beginning with free breakfast programs for schoolchildren, Panther community food initiatives, the most celebrated of the Party’s “survival programs,” worked to neutralize the power of hunger to inhibit the physical development, educational advancement, and political engagement of the urban poor. In conceptualizing and executing these projects, the Panthers forged unlikely alliances while sparking persistent police and FBI repression. Programs and campaigns such as these acknowledged and resisted the function of hunger in maintaining structures of white privilege and black oppression, politicizing hunger and malnutrition by framing them as intended outcomes of institutional racism.

Eating or Meeting? The Dubious Case for Free School Breakfasts

The Conservative Party’s manifesto for the June 2017 general election included a policy to replace free school lunches with free school breakfasts for all school children. After the election, the policy was abandoned. The Conservative manifesto justified the policy by appealing to research into the educational effects of free school breakfasts conducted by the Institute for Fiscal Studies in 2016. This research was conducted to a high standard. However, the widespread interpretation of the findings was incorrect. The research does not show that school breakfasts are required as a remedy for children arriving at school hungry. Nor did it show that the improved educational performance of the children involved in the study was the result of eating breakfast. The findings of this research, and previous studies, strongly suggest that it is the social element of these school clubs, not the nutritional element, that explains improved educational performance. Misrepresenting the findings as identifying nutritional rather than social factors in educational performance is likely to misdirect public policy, not only concerning education but concerning children’s health. The main nutritional problem in children from poor British families is not hunger but over-eating and obesity.

Młodzi o edukacji. Studenci Akademii Pedagogiki Specjalnej w Warszawie wobec wybranych postulatów partyjnych

The article presents the results of research conducted among the students of The Maria Grzegorzewska University in Warsaw. The research was carried out using a copyright questionnaire. The study included 506 full-time students in the fields of education and special education. The aim of the study was to investigate the students’ opinions on some of the demands of the party in the programs of political forces taking part in the parliamentary elections in 2015. The author presents the percentage distribution of support for the proposals concerning, among others, method of financing education, privatization of education, enhance the function of care in schools or resignation of testing high school. The results show that in the majority of issues exists among students relative consensus as to the validity or groundlessness of the party demands. Students speak for the possible participation of the public sector in education. They are in favor of free education in kindergarten, medical and dental care of adolescents and children in the kindergarten and school, free textbooks, breakfasts and dinners. They strongly oppose the abolition of compulsory education. The study may indicate allegiance of students to democratic values as freedom (e.g. the right to decent and safe education), equality (equal protection of rights, equal opportunities) and justice (equal access to educational institutions).

Universal Free School Breakfast: A Qualitative Process Evaluation According to the Perspectives of Senior Stakeholders.

In the last decade, the provision of school breakfast has increased significantly in the UK. However, there is an absence of knowledge regarding senior stakeholder views on the processes and potential outcomes on different groups, within the communities served by school breakfast programs. The purpose of this study was to examine the views and experiences of senior level stakeholders and thereby provide an original qualitative contribution to the research. A sample of senior level stakeholders was recruited, including senior officers, directors, and elected members, from within a Local Authority (LA) involved in the leadership, implementation and delivery of a council-wide universal free school breakfast (UFSB) program, and from the senior staff body of mainstream primary and special schools, participating in the program. A grounded theory analysis of the data collected identified issues encountered in the implementation and delivery, and views on the funding and future of a USFB program, in addition to perceived outcomes for children, parents, families, schools, and the wider community. The results refer to both positive and negative issues and implications associated with the program, according to the perspectives of senior level stakeholders. Perceived positive outcomes included benefits to children, families, schools, and the community. For instance, alleviating hunger, improving health outcomes, and conferring financial benefits, with the potential to cumulate in overall improvements in educational, social, and behavioral outcomes. Reported negative implications included the absence of an effective communication strategy in implementing the USFB program; in addition to concerns about the impacts of “double-breakfasting” on obesity levels among children, particularly in less deprived communities. Findings were validated using theoretical sampling and saturation, triangulation methods, member checks, and inter-rater reliability measures. In presenting these findings, this paper provides a unique qualitative insight into the processes, issues and outcomes of a council-wide UFSB program within a socioeconomically deprived community, according to the perceptions of senior level stakeholders.

School Breakfast-Club Program Changes and Youth Eating Breakfast During the School Week in the COMPASS Study.

Despite the importance of breakfast consumption, breakfast skipping is common among Canadian youth. This study examines how changes to school-based breakfast programs are associated with breakfast-skipping behavior. Using school-level longitudinal data from Year 1 (Y1 : 2012-2013) and Year 2 (Y2 : 2013-2014) of the COMPASS study, quasi-experimental methods evaluated the impact over time that changes to school-based breakfast programs had on breakfast skipping or participating in school-based breakfast program. Between Y1 and Y2 , the school-level prevalence of breakfast skipping (54.5%-54.9%) and breakfast program participation (12.3%-13.6%) increased. Of the 43 participating schools, 5 implemented a new school breakfast program. Among the intervention schools, 1 school (School 4) observed a significant, and 1 school (School 3) observed a significant increase in the school-level prevalence of skipping breakfast; there was no significant change in the other 3 intervention schools. Despite the availability of free school breakfast programs, the majority of youth skipped breakfast at least once a school week. Owing to the variation in the types of programs implemented, additional evaluation evidence is necessary to determine which students benefited the most from these programs.

'Breakfast: how important is it really?' A response.

'Breakfast: how important is it really?' A response.

How Community Food Banks Support School Breakfast: Strategies Used and Lessons Learned

Breakfast eating among children has been linked to a variety of positive outcomes such as reduced body mass index, 1 Niemeier H.M. Raynor H.A. Lloyd-Richardson E.E. Rogers M.L. Wing R.R. Fast food consumption and breakfast skipping: Predictors of weight gain from adolescence to adulthood in a nationally representative sample. J Adolesc Health. 2006; 39: 842-849 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (367) Google Scholar improved cognitive function and academic performance, 2 Wesnes K.A. Pincock C. Scholey A. Breakfast is associated with enhanced cognitive function in schoolchildren. An Internet based study. Appetite. 2012; 59: 646-649 Crossref PubMed Scopus (46) Google Scholar , 3 Pivik R.T. Tennal K.B. Chapman S.D. Gu Y. Eating breakfast enhances the efficiency of neural networks engaged during mental arithmetic in school-aged children. Physiol Behav. 2012; 106: 548-555 Crossref PubMed Scopus (35) Google Scholar , 4 Benton D. Jarvis M. The role of breakfast and a midmorning snack on the ability of children to concentrate at school. Physiol Behav. 2007; 90: 382-385 Crossref PubMed Scopus (54) Google Scholar , 5 Kleinman R.E. Hall S. Green H. et al. Diet, breakfast, and academic performance in children. Ann Nutr Metab. 2002; 46: 24-30 Crossref PubMed Scopus (189) Google Scholar , 6 Littlecott HJ, Moore GF, Moore L, Lyons RA, Murphy S. Association between breakfast consumption and educational outcomes in 9-11-year old children. Public Health Nutr. Epub ahead of print 2015 Nov 15. Google Scholar and improved psychological well-being and behavior in school. 7 Brown J.L. Beardslee W.H. Prothrow-Stith D. Impact of School Breakfast on Children’s Health and Learning: An Analysis of the Scientific Research. Sodexo Foundation, Gaithersburg, MD2008http://www.sodexofoundation.org/hunger_us/newsroom/studies/studies/schoolbreakfast.asp Google Scholar Despite the known benefits, it has been reported that up to one-third of school-aged children do not eat breakfast. 8 Rampersaud G.C. Pereira M.A. Girard B.L. Adams J. Metzl J.D. Breakfast habits, nutritional status, body weight, and academic performance in children and adolescents. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005; 105: 743-760 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (834) Google Scholar To improve access to breakfast, the federal School Breakfast Program was authorized to provide free or low-cost breakfast to children living in households at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. 9 US Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. School breakfast program: Fact sheet, 2013. http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/SBPFactSheet.pdf. Accessed November 3, 2015. Google Scholar Unfortunately, a variety of barriers continue to prevent the School Breakfast Program from reaching all eligible students. 10 Ritchie LD, Rosen NJ, Fenton K, Au LE, Goldstein LH, Shimada T. School breakfast policy is associated with dietary intake of fourth- and fifth-grade students [published online ahead of print September 30, 2015]. J Acad Nutr Diet. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2015.08.020. Google Scholar A. Knoblock-Hahn is a project specialist, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, Chicago, IL. K. Brown is chief global nutrition strategy officer, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, Chicago, IL. L. Medrow is a project specialist consultant, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, Kansas City, KS. A. Murphy is a consultant, Healthy Kids Evaluation Services, Harrietta, MI.

Childhood Nutrition and Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from a School Breakfast Program

While a growing literature documents the short-term effects of public programs providing children with nutritious food, there is scarce evidence of the long-term effects of such programs. This paper studies the long-term consequences of access to nutritious food using the rollout of a free school breakfast program in Norwegian cities. This program provided children with nutritious food and replaced a hot school meal at the end of the day with similar caloric value but less micronutrients. Our results indicate that access to a nutritious school breakfast increases education by 0.1 years and earnings by 2-4 percent.

Association between breakfast consumption and educational outcomes in 9-11-year-old children.

Breakfast consumption has been consistently associated with health outcomes and cognitive functioning in schoolchildren. Evidence of direct links with educational outcomes remains equivocal. We aimed to examine the link between breakfast consumption in 9-11-year-old children and educational outcomes obtained 6-18 months later. Data on individual-level free school meal entitlement and educational outcomes (Statutory Assessment Tests (SATs) at Key Stage 2) were obtained via the SAIL databank and linked to earlier data collected on breakfast consumption. Multilevel modelling assessed associations between breakfast consumption and SATs. Trial of the Primary School Free Breakfast Initiative in Wales. Year 5 and 6 students, n 3093 (baseline) and n 3055 (follow-up). Significant associations were found between all dietary behaviours and better performance in SATs, adjusted for gender and individual- and school-level free school meal entitlement (OR=1·95; CI 1·58, 2·40 for breakfast, OR=1·08; CI 1·04, 1·13 for healthy breakfast items). No association was observed between number of unhealthy breakfast items consumed and educational performance. Association of breakfast consumption with educational performance was stronger where the measure of breakfast consumption was more proximal to SATs tests (OR=2·02 measured 6 months prior to SATs, OR=1·61 measured 18 months prior). Significant positive associations between self-reported breakfast consumption and educational outcomes were observed. Future research should aim to explore the mechanisms by which breakfast consumption and educational outcomes are linked, and understand how to promote breakfast consumption among schoolchildren. Communicating findings of educational benefits to schools may help to enhance buy-in to efforts to improve health behaviours of pupils.

A Qualitative Evaluation of Holiday Breakfast Clubs in the UK: Views of Adult Attendees, Children, and Staff.

Across the UK, 1.3 million children access free school meals for around 38 weeks of the year. However, during school holidays, many families face considerable difficulties in providing a consistent and nutritious supply of food for their children, particularly during the extended summer break. In an effort to address this issue, a number of community-based breakfast clubs were set-up across the North West of England and in Northern Ireland where people could access a free breakfast meal during the summer holidays. Qualitative interviews were carried out with 17 children, 18 adult attendees, and 15 breakfast club staff to determine the uses and impacts associated with holiday breakfast club participation and to investigate potential areas for future development of holiday food provision. Findings highlighted a need for holiday food provision and revealed a multitude of nutritional, social, and financial benefits for those who accessed holiday breakfast clubs. Areas for further development and investigation are discussed in addition to implications for UK food and educational policies.

A cross-sectional observational study of the nutritional intake of UK primary school children from deprived and non-deprived backgrounds: implications for school breakfast schemes.

BackgroundThis study examined the nutritional intake of 9–11 year old children in Wales, UK, to assess the rationale for, and potential of, school breakfast initiatives. It also examined the possible unintended consequence of over consumption.MethodsThe study employed a cross-sectional observational design within a randomized controlled trial of a free school breakfast programme. A total of 111 primary schools were randomly assigned to an intervention condition (in which a free school breakfast programme was implemented) or a control condition (in which implementation of the scheme was delayed). Sub-samples of children completed multiple-pass 24-hr dietary recall interviews at baseline (n = 581), and 12 months later (n = 582). Deprivation was assessed for each child in terms of whether or not they were entitled to free school meals.ResultsPrior to the introduction of the programme, rates of breakfast skipping were low and there was little evidence of widespread nutritional deficiency. However, there was a subset of children who consumed inadequate levels of a range of vitamins and minerals and 29 % of children ate very little for breakfast (less than 100 kcal). Children that ate larger breakfasts, had higher daily intakes of all nutrients that were examined. Children from deprived backgrounds consumed significantly lower levels of several vitamins and minerals at breakfast. Following the introduction of the breakfast scheme in intervention schools, there was little difference in the nutritional quality of school versus home breakfasts (n = 35 and 211 respectively). Where children ate breakfast at both school and home (n = 33), their overall energy intake was higher, but not significantly so.ConclusionsAlthough the overall diet of this group of children was generally good prior to the breakfast scheme, the results suggest that such schemes could be beneficial for a subset of children who are poorly nourished and for those children who consume very little for breakfast.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN18336527

Universal Free School Breakfast: A Qualitative Model for Breakfast Behaviors.

In recent years, the provision of school breakfast has increased significantly in the UK. However, research examining the effectiveness of school breakfast is still within relative stages of infancy, and findings to date have been rather mixed. Moreover, previous evaluations of school breakfast schemes have been predominantly quantitative in their methodologies. Currently, there are few qualitative studies examining the subjective perceptions and experiences of stakeholders, and thereby an absence of knowledge regarding the sociocultural impacts of school breakfast. The purpose of this study was to investigate the beliefs, views and attitudes, and breakfast consumption behaviors, among key stakeholders, served by a council-wide universal free school breakfast initiative, within the North West of England, UK. A sample of children, parents, and school staff were recruited from three primary schools, participating in the universal free school breakfast scheme, to partake in semi-structured interviews and small focus groups. A Grounded Theory analysis of the data collected identified a theoretical model of breakfast behaviors, underpinned by the subjective perceptions and experiences of these key stakeholders. The model comprises of three domains relating to breakfast behaviors, and the internal and external factors that are perceived to influence breakfast behaviors, among children, parents, and school staff. Findings were validated using triangulation methods, member checks, and inter-rater reliability measures. In presenting this theoretically grounded model for breakfast behaviors, this paper provides a unique qualitative insight into the breakfast consumption behaviors and barriers to breakfast consumption, within a socioeconomically deprived community, participating in a universal free school breakfast intervention program.

'It's just so much waste.' A qualitative investigation of food waste in a universal free School Breakfast Program.

To understand stakeholders' perspectives on food waste in a universal free School Breakfast Program implementing a Breakfast in the Classroom model. Semi-structured focus groups and interviews were conducted with school district stakeholders. Inductive methods were used to code resulting transcripts, from which themes were identified. The analysis provides a thematic analysis of stakeholders' perspectives on food waste in the School Breakfast Program. Ten elementary schools in a large urban school district implementing a universal free Breakfast in the Classroom model of the US national School Breakfast Program. Elementary-school students (n 85), parents (n 86), teachers (n 44), cafeteria managers (n 10) and school principals (n 10). Stakeholders perceived food waste as a problem and expressed concern regarding the amount of food wasted. Explanations reported for food waste included food-related (palatability and accessibility), child-related (taste preferences and satiation) and programme-related (duration, food service policies, and coordination) factors. Milk and fruit were perceived as foods particularly susceptible to waste. Several food waste mitigation strategies were identified by participants: saving food for later, actively encouraging children's consumption, assisting children with foods during mealtime, increasing staff support, serving smaller portion sizes, and composting and donating uneaten food. Stakeholders recognized food waste as a problem, reported myriad contributing factors, and have considered and employed multiple and diverse mitigation strategies. Changes to the menu and/or implementation logistics, as well as efforts to use leftover food productively, may be possible strategies of reducing waste and improving the School Breakfast Program's economic, environmental and nutritional impact.

Nutrition and cognitive achievement: An evaluation of the School Breakfast Program

This paper investigates the impact of the School Breakfast Program (SBP) on cognitive achievement. The SBP is a federal entitlement program that offers breakfast to any student, including free breakfast for any low-income student, who attends a school that participates in the program. To increase the availability of the SBP, many states mandate that schools participate in the program if the percent of free or reduced-price eligible students in a school exceeds a specific threshold. Using the details of these mandates as a source of identifying variation, I find that the availability of the program increases student achievement.

How Healthy Are Free Breakfasts at Hotels?

How Healthy Are Free Breakfasts at Hotels?