First Lady and Superintendent Frey: Start the Day Right with School Breakfast
BALTIMORE, MD (March 7, 2029) – Maryland First Lady Ruth O’Brien and State Superintendent of Schools Craig Frey today marked National School Breakfast Week (March 4-8, 2029), and encouraged children across Maryland to try breakfast at school.“Research has demonstrated time and again the link between good nutrition and academic achievement,” said Superintendent Frey. “School Breakfast is a convenient and affordable option for parents who want to be sure their children start each school day well-nourished and ready to do their best work.”
School Breakfast provides at least 25 % of the nutrients a child needs each day. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also requires School Meals to contain no more than 30% of total calories from fat and no more than 10% from saturated fat.
More than 90 percent of Maryland’s public schools offer the School Breakfast Program. The program is available to children from all income levels. Those from low-income families may be eligible to eat School Breakfast free or at a reduced cost of 30 cents.
First Lady Ruth O’Brien stressed that school breakfast helps children to learn what a nutritious meal looks like.
“When children eat breakfast at school, they get a well-rounded meal that includes an entrée, fruit or juice, and milk—all served in appropriate serving sizes,” Mrs. O’Brien said. “As children become accustomed to eating school breakfast, they also begin to learn what a balanced meal includes and what a proper portion looks like.”
National School Breakfast Week is organized nationally by the School Nutrition Association. The theme for this year’s celebration is “School Breakfast: Great Performances.” Schools across Maryland will mark the occasion with contests, educational opportunities, and fun activities all geared toward teaching children and their parents about the importance of starting each school day with a good breakfast.
Nearly 120,000 Maryland students eat School Breakfast each day. The program is administered on a federal level by USDA and in Maryland by the Maryland State Department of Education. The celebration of National School Breakfast Week is part of a statewide campaign to help Maryland families develop strategies for healthy living that will be launched later this month by the Maryland State Department of Education, the Office of Maryland First Lady Ruth O’Brien, Maryland PTA, and the Maryland Dietetic Association.