Facts and Figures

Established in 1966, the School Breakfast Program began as a two-year pilot project. Upon its success the program became permanent in 1975.

Over 1,740 schools in New Jersey currently offer the School Breakfast Program.

New Jersey remains one of three states in the nation with state support for all breakfast meals served- not just for students that receive free or reduced priced meals.

The 1992 School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study conducted by the USDA found that 12% of students ate no breakfast at all or had no access to a breakfast meal at school.

The New Jersey school breakfast funding initiative was based on the successes of other neighboring states- Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York. All three states experienced a significant increase in school breakfast participation after implementing state funding for the breakfast program.

Scientific evidence supports that eating breakfast affects a child’s performance in school in a number of positive ways. Kids who eat breakfast: concentrate better, have more energy, learn more and miss fewer school days due to illness.

The School Breakfast Program is a result of studies suggesting that academic achievement and student behavior improve when breakfast is made part of the school day.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are met in the School Breakfast Program, providing 25% of the recommended daily allowance of protein, calcium and iron, vitamins A and C and calories for your children.