Nebraska School Breakfast Participation November 17, 2016 Beth Bruck-Upton, MS, RD, LMNT Director, Health & Wellness, Midwest Dairy Council bupton@midwestdairy.com Zainab Rida, PhD, RD, LMNT Director, NE Team Nutrition Program Zainab.rida@Nebraska.gov
Outline Parent s Perception of SB Administrators' Perception of SB Barriers that prevent parents/administrator participating in SB Proposed Changes to SB Overcoming the barriers SB Best Practices Impact of SB Resources
What Does Research Say about SB? Evidences suggest that school breakfast is A strategy for addressing food insecurity, nutrition, and obesity prevention Related to better academic performance Reduced behavior issues Associated with better nutrition and weight control in school-aged
Collaboration Iowa Utah Nebraska Spring 2016 Administrators (468) Parents (756)
Parent s Survey SB Availability SB cost Breakfast Consumption patterns Attitudes and beliefs around SB Responsibilities for providing Breakfast Importance of Breakfast Benefits of eating SB Support for child eating SB Proposed changes to SB Reasons for low SBP in NE Purpose of SB Health Values of SB
Administrators Survey Schools with breakfast Program Schools without Breakfast Program Barriers to school breakfast improvement Information about school breakfast programs Reasons for low SBP in NE
LOCATIONS WHERE CHILDREN ATE BREAKFAST "EVERY DAY" OR "MOST DAYS" 65.6% 11.2% 5.9% 6.0% School Home On the way Other
Attitudes and Beliefs Around Breakfast Who is responsible for your child eating breakfast? Frequency Percent Myself or another parent 511 67.6 My child 363 48 My child's school 52 6.9 Babysitter or daycare provider 27 3.6 Other 10 1.3
Importance of breakfast IMPORTANCE OF BREAKFAST RELATIVE TO OTHER MEALS 4.3% 45.2% 50.5%
Perceptions of school breakfast Reasons child eats school breakfast There isn't time for my child to eat breakfast at home in the morning Frequency Percentage 121 16 My child likes school breakfast 97 12.8 My child's friends eat school breakfast 67 8.9 My child receives free or reduced cost breakfast 48 6.3 School breakfast is a good value for my money 30 4 School breakfast is a healthy meal 31 4.1 School breakfast is better for my child than what I could make at home 13 1.7 I don't have money for my child to eat breakfast at home in the morning 11 1.5 Other 485 64.2 Includes students who do not eat school breakfast
Perceptions of school breakfast Other reasons child eats school breakfast Theme Frequency Example(s) Early morning activities/practice 20 Eats breakfast at school on days that school activity starts early at school, more than one hour prior to the start of school day. Sometimes they will eat something light before morning practice, but eat breakfast at school after morning practice as they are hungry. Hunger 10 He eats it whenever he's hungry. When my child eats breakfast at school it is because my child was not hungry at home. Convenience 8 It is a convenience for me and supports the school program. Like the food on some days 5 Sometimes my child likes what the school makes for breakfast on a certain day. Required by 4 Required for the preschool. daycare/preschool Running late 3 My child gets them self to school, so if they don't get up in time to make breakfast they have school breakfast. Change of pace 3 She thinks it is fun once in a while. Change of pace every now and then.
Perceptions of school breakfast Reasons child does NOT eat school breakfast Frequency Percentage My child would prefer to eat breakfast at home. 220 29.1 Feeding my child breakfast is my job and my responsibility. 130 17.2 My child does not like the food at school breakfast. 96 12.7 Breakfast at school does not fit into my family's schedule. 80 10.6 The cost of school breakfast is too high. 78 10.3 My child is responsible for getting breakfast him/herself. 73 9.7 My child gets him/herself to school. 61 8.1 We eat breakfast as a family. 59 7.8 It's hard to get my child or children to school early enough for 55 7.3 breakfast. I don't want the government feeding my child. 22 2.9 I would be embarrassed to have my child eat breakfast at 10 1.3 school. I am afraid of what other parents might think of me for having 9 1.2 my child eat breakfast at school. Other 99 13.1
Other reasons child does NOT eat school breakfast Theme Frequency Example(s) Quality of food/healthier at home 15 I feel the school breakfast is junk food most of the time and does not nourish and set a student up for the day. The food isn't nutritious enough for my child. The school's breakfast consist of cheese sticks most of the time. I think that my child needs to be fed better food that has nutrition value. An example might be fresh fruit. The breakfast meals are small and aren't filling. Breakfast is supposed to be the best and biggest meal of the day and our school is lacking that. Rides the bus/timing 13 My children ride the bus and they are not at school in time to eat breakfast. We pack a breakfast and the kids eat it on the bus. They get on the bus over 1 hour before they arrive at school. Cost 8 We can't afford it. One less expense as I have 4 children in school. Eats at daycare before school Too little food in school breakfast 6 She eats at daycare before school. 6 My student does not receive enough to eat at breakfast. A cheese stick is not breakfast. It costs too much for what little they receive. Doesn t eat breakfast 6 My son does not always want to eat something for breakfast, not hungry. Eats at home 5 No need - food is supplied at home. Dietary needs/restrictions 4 No safe gluten free options for Celiac. Child prefers to manage own high protein & carb selection diet.
Perceived Benefits of Eating SB Perceived benefits of eating school breakfast Frequency Percentage There are no benefits for our family 321 42.5 School breakfast would be convenient 272 36 School breakfast would make my mornings less stressful 140 18.5 School breakfast would give me more time in the morning 138 18.3 School breakfast would mean my child isn't hungry in the morning 120 15.9 School breakfast would give my child a more nutritious meal 86 11.4 School breakfast serves food my child likes 84 11.1 If my child had school breakfast, he/she would do better in school 68 9 School breakfast would save my family money 56 7.4 If my child had school breakfast, he/she would not eat unhealthy food for 53 7 breakfast If my child had school breakfast, he/she would eat less at lunch because he/she would not be starving If my child had school breakfast, it would be easier for him/her to control his/her weight 31 4.1 21 2.8
Support eating SB "Would you support your child if he/she wanted to eat school breakfast?" 48.1% 51.9% Yes No
Proposed Changes to SB Changes to food served at SB Greater Variety and Choices Healthier Less sugar or processed foods Better food Larger portion size More Time Lower cost
Reasons for low SBP in NE Emphasis on Home life and family Family values Parents at home Midwest/NE values Judgment of parents
Reasons for low SBP in NE School Breakfast Characteristics Food Cost Options
Reasons for low SBP in NE Logistics Timing Bussing/Commute Farm Schedules Awareness Governmental Attitudes Stigma Administration
Purpose of school breakfast program "Who do you think the school breakfast program is intended to help?" 52.4% 55.4% 44.6% 39.8% 21.0% Children who have parents who don't have time to provide breakfast. Children who have parents who don't have money to provide breakfast. Children who have parents who don't care enough to provide breakfast. Student-athletes For all children in your school district
Health Value of Breakfast "Do you consider school breakfast to be healthy?" 36% 41% Yes No Don't know 23%
Health Value of Breakfast "What is healthier, breakfast at school or breakfast at home?" 7.9% 39.9% Breakfast at school Breakfast at home 38.8% Equally healthy
Administrators School District Size: # % Frequency Percent Less than 1,000 students 333 71.2 1,000-2,499 students 45 9.6 2,500 or more students 90 19.2
Type of Breakfast Delivery Methods Breakfast Served: Frequency Percent In the cafeteria before school 408 87.2 Grab-and-go 116 24.8 In classrooms 24 5.1 Between the first and second bells 20 4.3 After the first bell 17 3.6 Breakfast isn't served at our school. 16 3.4 Other 30 6.4
READINESS FOR IMPROVING SCHOOL BREAKFAST PARTICIPATION 2% 2% 1% We currently have high participation 18% 36% We are currently working on improving participation We're ready to start now 1% We're nearly ready 5% Uncertain Not really ready at this time Unlikely that we would be ready in the near future 35% Do not want to improve participation
Concerns about Improving Participation: Frequency Percent Bus schedule 113 25.7 Time and resources for food service staff 107 24.3 Lack of flexibility in changing the items offered at school 94 21.4 breakfast Parent support 85 19.3 Budget 83 18.9 School schedule 83 18.9 Belief that breakfast is a parent's responsibility 79 18.0 Supervision issues 75 17.0 Lack of flexibility in changing the structure of how school 67 15.2 breakfast is served Wasted food 48 10.9 Space and facilities 46 10.5 Support from teachers 45 10.2 Support from food service staff 37 8.4 Community support 30 6.8 Support from other administrators 14 3.2 Other 74 16.8
Breakfast Options to consider Breakfast Options They Would Consider: Frequency Percent In the cafeteria before school 282 64.1 Grab-and-go 272 61.8 In the classroom 116 26.4 Between the first and second bells 71 16.1 After the first bell 57 13.0 None of the above 26 5.9
Benefits of SBP Benefits of School Breakfast Program: Frequency Percent Students will not be hungry. 410 93.2 Students will perform better academically. 410 93.2 Students will have fewer behavior problems. 318 72.3 Convenience 154 35.0 Students will not binge eat at lunch. 135 30.7 Teachers will not have to feed students. 125 28.4 The food service budget will increase. 50 11.4 Other 6 1.4
READINESS TO START BREAKFAST PROGRAM 13% 6% 44% 13% We have already started working on it. We're nearly ready. Uncertain Not ready at this time Unlikely that we will be ready this year 25% 0% said they were ready to start now
Concerns about Starting SBP Concerns about Starting a School Breakfast Program: Frequency Percentage Time and resources for food service staff 10 62.5 School schedule 9 56.3 Bus schedule 9 56.3 Budget 6 37.5 Belief that breakfast is a parent's responsibility 4 25.0 Lack of flexibility in determining the structure of how school breakfast is served 4 25.0 Space and facilities 4 25.0 Supervision issues 4 25.0 Wasted food 3 18.8 Support from food service stuff 2 12.5 Parent support 1 6.3 Other 3 18.8
Benefits of SBP Benefits of School Breakfast Participation: Frequency Percentage Students will not be hungry. 14 87.5 Students will perform better academically. 13 81.3 Students will have less behavior problems. 7 43.8 Teachers or school nurses will not have to feed students with food they personally purchase. 5 31.3 Students will not binge at lunch. 3 18.8 The food service revenue will increase. 1 6.3
Barriers to SB improvement Logistics School Schedule/busing Budgets-School and family Food Choices Staff/supervision Infrastructure Support for change
Barriers to SB improvement Community Buy-in Parent Support Student Interest Eating at home Lateness Teacher/administration support
Availability of SBP information Availability of Information about School Breakfast Programs: Yes Maybe/ Uncerta in No N/A The basic food service requirements? 85.6 10.8 2.2 1.3 The basic administrative 85.2 10.3 2.9 1.6 requirements? What students like to eat? 59.8 30.6 8.5 1.1 Reimbursement rates? 73.0 17.3 6.3 3.4 Traditional before-bell breakfast? 79.1 12.1 4.9 3.8 Serving breakfast in the classroom? 29.2 30.1 30.1 10.6 Serving breakfast after first period? 28.5 27.6 30.3 13.5 Grab-and-go breakfast? 44.9 24.9 22.2 7.9 The financial implications of starting a school breakfast program? 52.4 15.3 13.3 19.1
Reasons for low SBP in Nebraska Eat at home Rurality Responsible families Students lack time Transportation Sleeping in Cost to family Unaware Stigma
Reasons for low SBP in Nebraska Lack of administration support Promotion Staff Support Restrictions Leadership Not Offered Funding
In Summary How to address the followings Strong culture that parents should feed their children breakfast at home Challenges present in combatting hunger across the state Parents and administrators resistance to SB Stigma of SB Improving the quality and quantity of SB Community support
Overcoming The Barriers Data Discovery: District Breakfast Survey Breakfast/ Wellness Committee: Analyze Observe: Visit a Grab N Go or Second Chance school Strategy: Pilot a New Delivery Model Teacher Support: Committee Student Support: Marketing & Menu Parent Support: Eat at School Community Support: Community Breakfast
Impact of Breakfast This is Undeniable Food Insecurity Wellness Academic Achievement 11/15/2016
Best Practice Examples
43 Walnut Middle School, Grand Island, NE Grab N Go Implemented August 2013-2014 school year 887 students in eight minutes First month of implementation, served nearly 10,000 breakfasts *an increase of nearly 100% from traditional breakfast model offered Benefits: Increased instructional time due to students on time for school Date
Blair High School, Second Chance After the Bell
Breakfast at Brunch, Gothenburg Public Schools
OPS Grab N Go
Norris Middle School- Grab N Go After the Bell
Resources http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/snf/bic/ Presentations Key Stakeholders Feasibility Studies Financial Planning Menu Planning Promotion & Marketing Videos Research Implementation Tools
Resources Fuel Up to Play 60 Equipment Grants Action for Healthy Kids Breakfast Grants Team Nutrition State Department of Education, Nutrition Services Technical Assistance
Contacts Zainab Rida, Director Nebraska Team Nutrition Zainab.rida@Nebraska.gov Beth Bruck-Upton, Director of Health & Wellness, Midwest Dairy Council bupton@midwestdairy.com