Breakfast In Schools: Literature Review

Breakfast is recommended as part of a healthy diet because it is associated with healthier macro and micronutrient intakes, BMI, and lifestyle. Breakfast is also widely promoted to improve cognitive function and academic performance (Hoyland et al., 2009). Yet, according to Hayes and FitzSimons (2024) in the 2021-2022 school year, 51.9 out of every 100 students picked up breakfast, while in the 2022-2023 school year that decreased to 50.9 out of every 100 students. That is a decrease of 1.2 million children for the school year not receiving school breakfast that had the year prior. Hearst et al. (2017) discovered common hurdles K-12 students must overcome: delayed drop off/ bus arrival, not being hungry, limited time to eat, and the likeability of breakfast options. This literature review is going to explore the question: What are the benefits for students who participate in the School Breakfast Program (SBP)? In 2019, the School Breakfast Program (SBP) served close to 15 million children on average daily, and 85 percent of those breakfasts were to low-income students for free or for a reduced price (Guthrie, 2021). A school-based policy, such as breakfast after the bell (BATB), and environmental change intervention, such as cafeteria staff engagement with the student population, like National School Breakfast Week activities and special menu items, can successfully reduce perceived barriers to eating school breakfast. These same initiatives can also improve students' classroom behavior and nutrition and diet quality (Olarte et al., 2023). While there is a positive trend in classroom behavior there are split results on positive effects on academic performance. Exploring the themes of breakfast and its relationship to student behavior and performance, accessibility of said breakfast, and lastly the nutritional value to the student is imperative to the success of that child through their school career and beyond.