LOWNDES CO. – Busy weekday mornings make it a challenge for families to find time for a healthy breakfast.

However, US Department of Agriculture data shows that more students are starting their day with a nutritious breakfast in their school cafeterias. To encourage more families to take advantage of the healthy choices available with school breakfast, Lowndes County Schools recognized National School Breakfast Week during March 6-10, 2017.

The National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) campaign theme, “School Breakfast Challenge”, reminds the entire school community that school breakfast provides a healthy, energizing start to the day for students. Students were encouraged to “Take the Challenge” from March 6-10 with special menus, decorations, cafeteria events, and more. Schools throughout the system decorated bulletin boards, set up special displays, held contests to encourage participation and made daily announcements to encourage students to “Take the School Breakfast Challenge.”

“A healthy breakfast at the start of the day is one way to ensure students are getting the best education they can,” said Sharon Flythe, Lowndes Director of School Nutrition. “National School Breakfast Week helps us educate parents and students about all the healthy and appealing choices we offer.” The district serves over 3500 breakfast meals daily through the federally funded School Breakfast Program. School nutrition professionals in Lowndes County prepare breakfast and lunches every day that meet federal nutrition standards – limiting fat, calories and sodium – and encourage students to choose from the fruits, vegetables and whole grains offered with school meals.

Lowndes County School System menus for breakfast and lunch are located on the system website, www.lowndes.k12.ga.us. Several elementary schools use the “grab and go” breakfast model to reach more students. Lowndes High School uses a mobile breakfast cart located near the bus area so that students can pick up breakfast on the way to class.

National School Breakfast Week was launched in 1989 to raise awareness of the availability of the School Breakfast Program to all children and to promote the links between eating a good breakfast, academic achievement and healthy lifestyles. The “Take the School Breakfast Challenge” is made possible by the nonprofit School Nutrition Association, Kellogg’s and Potatoes USA. Parents and students can follow the fun on Facebook.com/TrayTalk.

For more information about school meals, visit www.lowndes.k12.ga.us or www.schoolnutrition.org/SchoolMeals.