The U.S. Department of Agriculture partners every year with the School Nutrition Association to celebrate the week and highlight the importance of promoting healthy choices for children throughout the school day.This year's theme is "Be a Star with School Breakfast," emphasizing how eating a balanced breakfast at school can help students to shine. The USDA's School Breakfast Program provides a nutritious start to each school day for nearly 13 million children in over 91,000 schools and residential child care institutions. It offers school children of all economic backgrounds a well-balanced, healthy meal consistent with the latest nutrition science and dietary guidelines.
"Research shows that children learn better after a healthy breakfast," said Kevin Concannon, undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services. "National Nutrition Month is a timely reminder to include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy at breakfast and at every meal, each day."
Also this month, the Milk Processor Education Program has partnered with Kellogg's to help share breakfast with children in need as part of the Share Breakfast™ program. The Kellogg’s partnership is a natural one for MilkPEP. Together, cereal and milk is a leading source of 10 nutrients important to growing bodies, and it provides all four of the nutrients Americans are missing most – calcium, potassium, vitamin D and fiber.
