BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING BRITISH COLUMBIA

In 2011/12, Breakfast for Learning BC provided a total of $194,274 in grant dollars to 559 nutrition programs in 249 schools, serving 30,082 children.  Breakfast for Learning BC was initiated in 2001 to provide direct funding and nutrition education support to start and sustain successful school and community-based breakfast and snack programs for children and youth throughout the province.  In our first year, nutrition grants totaling $66,000 were distributed to 45 child nutrition programs serving 2,700 children.

Good nutrition is important in helping children work, learn, and play. Research shows that students who participate in school breakfast programs are absent and late for school less often, have better memory and problem solving skills, show improved verbal fluency and creative abilities, and perform better academically.  Breakfast for Learning BC tracks outcomes of nutrition programs as reported by participating schools.  The results are striking; in the 2010/11 academic year:

• 99% of programs saw children making healthier food choices independently
• 97% of programs saw an improvement in attention span
• 95% of programs noted a reduction in tardiness/increased attendance
• 98% of programs noted improved behaviour
• 99% of programs reported an increase in overall student happiness.