School breakfast is a great way for all students to get the energy they need to learn and be successful in school. In St. Lawrence County, too many children live with hunger. That is why most schools offer a health breakfast to include fruit, whole grains and milk.

More and more schools are offering school breakfast “after the bell”, meaning that breakfast is offered after the start of the official school day. This ensures that more children can eat breakfast, and eliminates the stigma that school breakfast is just for low-income children.

In fact, many schools offer breakfast at no cost to all students.

As we mark the beginning of a new school year, remember that school breakfast is an important way to reduce hunger and improve a child’s ability to do well in school. Call you local Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) coordinator to learn how the school breakfast program can help your child start the day ready to learn!

Robert J. Smith

St. Lawrence County NOEP coordinator