Administrators and School Boards

Administrators such as principals and superintendents want to see their schools as successful environments where the students, staff and community members thrive. Since school breakfast improves student learning, test scores, concentration and attendance, all of which contribute to higher academic achievement, administrators and school board members should have a strong interest in school breakfast programs. Administrators and school board members are vital in the decision making and implementation of school programs. It is up to this group of people to set the tone for the program and the rest of the district. As leaders for the district, administrators and school board members should be included in decisions regarding school breakfast so they can help ensure the program is nicely integrated into the school system.

In regards to a school breakfast program, administrators and school board members often have questions and/or concerns regarding scheduling, costs, resources, and participation.

• Sample Letter to Superintendent or Principal

Educators and Other School Staff/Faculty

Teachers, coaches, and other school faculty work closely with students. Therefore, their support is critical. Educators and other staff/faculty are great role models for students and can strongly influence kids in their decision making. It is important for teachers, coaches, and other school faculty to understand that a school breakfast program can help the lives of the kids on many different levels. Ultimately, school breakfast can help educators and other school staff/faculty reach their goals with students.

When marketing and making decisions with this population some considerations include teacher workload, classroom order, time commitment, curriculum opportunities, and performance both physically and mentally.

• Sample Letter to Staff

Community Members

Community members and organizations may have questions and/or concerns in regards to a school breakfast program. Some examples of community members that may want to get involved include welfare groups, business owners, and any other organizations involved in feeding children or school nutrition. Since the program can benefit from the community’s support, knowledge, and resources, it is important to present the breakfast program and its benefits to the community.

Community members may have questions surrounding cost, impact on the children as well as the rest of the community, and business opportunities or partnerships. For these reasons, it is important to keep the community involved when deciding to implement a school breakfast program.

Families and Students

Parents play one of the biggest roles in a student’s life and therefore are a very powerful asset to the school breakfast program. It is important that parents understand the school breakfast program and get themselves and their child(ren) involved. The school breakfast program is an easy, effective, and time-efficient way for parents to ensure their kids are starting their day in an optimal way that will allow them to learn and grow. It is also important to remind families that there are not only benefits to their children but that there are benefits for them too.

In terms of communication and implementation regarding families and students, it is important to consider if the child already eats breakfast at home, cost, time, when the child is hungry, breakfast alternatives, the social experience of school breakfast, and finally that families are role models for their children.

• Sample Letter to Parents

• Parent Survey

• Student Survey Grades K-6

• Student Survey Grades 6-12

Please select the product list based on the distribution center (city, state) listed below. 

Midwest Distribution Centers: Brighton & Grand Rapids, MI; Springfield, OH; Shepherdsville, KY; Kenosha, WI; Imperial, PA

• Week at a Glance

• Menu Outline

• Grab N Go Product List

Florida Distribution Centers: Plant City and Miami, FL

• Week at a Glance

• Menu Outline

• Grab N Go Product List

Texas Distribution Centers: Houston and Dallas, TX

• Week at a Glance

• Menu Outline

• Grab N Go Product List

• Get students involved in planning their school breakfast including the menu, marketing posters, and logos

• Use clubs, courses, and contests to get students engaged

• Allow students to help with breakfast to earn community service/volunteer hours or certificates/awards

• Incentive programs like lucky tray for prizes

• Invite local celebrities and community role models to endorse the school breakfast program ( i.e sports coaches, high school principal, local police officers/firefighters)

• Celebrate national school breakfast week (https://schoolnutrition.org/nsbw/)

• Invite students and parents to breakfast. Offer samples of School Breakfast items so parents can taste the food their children have at school. Give a tour of the food service department and provide family-sized recipes for parents to take home (if possible, include a nutrient analysis to show how the meals compare with nutrition standards). 

• Plan taste testing events

• Try some theme days

• Serve breakfast for lunch

• Flyers, banners, automated messages to homes, and PA announcements. Examples:

  • Tomorrow, for breakfast, we will be featuring a new recipe, ____________, which was created by a group of chefs just for you! Don’t forget to come to school breakfast to give it a try.

  • If you like the new breakfast menu items you’ve been trying, you can make them at home on the weekend. They can be found on our school website. This Friday, we are featuring _________________ — don’t miss out!

  • How are you getting your fuel? Eating a healthy breakfast gives your body the fuel you need to play for the rest of the day. So don’t forget to come try school breakfast.

  • Do you want to do better on tests? Everyone does, right? Well, did you know that students who eat a nutritious breakfast score better on tests and improve overall grades? Remember to come grab your school breakfast!

  • The old saying is true: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! If you don’t have time to eat at home, try eating breakfast at school. Breakfast is brain fuel!

• Get involved on social media, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (i.e. #schoolbreakfast) 

• Send an informational letter to parents/families explaining your breakfast program

For more information on how to implement these marketing concepts visit:

• http://meals4kids.org/downloadschoolbreakfast

• http://www.fns.usda.gov/sbp/marketing-ideas