'Wake Up to School Breakfast' encourages Greencastle families to choose eating at school

Busy weekday mornings make it a challenge for families to find time for a healthy breakfast. However, U.S. Department of Agriculture data show 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, Greencastle Community Schools will recognize March 7-11 as National School Breakfast Week.

The National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) campaign theme, "Wake Up to School Breakfast," reminds the entire school community that school breakfast provides a healthy, energizing start to the day for students.

Students will be encouraged to "wake up" their minds and bodies during the week of March 7-11 with special menus, decorations, giveaways and more, Greencastle Director of Food Service Debbie Carrico said.

"A healthy breakfast at the start of the day is one way to ensure students are getting the best education they can," Carrico said. "National School Breakfast Week helps us educate parents and students about all the healthy and appealing choices we offer."

The school district serves more than 800 breakfast meals daily through the federally funded School Breakfast Program.

School nutrition professionals in the Greencastle Community School Corporation (GCSC) prepare breakfast and lunches every day that meet federal nutrition standards -- limiting fat, calories and sodium -- and encourage students to choose from fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains offered with school meals.

Schools will be featuring two new items during the week: Whole-grain Triple Berry Mini French Toast and whole-grain Cinnamon Cream Cheese Bagels, along with favorites like biscuits and gravy, whole-grain breakfast pizza or a whole-grain doughnut.

Other options are available daily such as yogurt and fruit with graham crackers, whole-grain muffins and cereal.

The Super Special of the week will be Free Friday Breakfast on March 11 when any GCSC student is invited to join the cafeteria staff for breakfast at no cost.

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 links between eating a good breakfast, academic achievement and healthy lifestyles.

The "Wake Up to School Breakfast" campaign is made possible by the non-profit School Nutrition Association and Kellogg's Specialty Channels.

For more information about school meals, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/SchoolsMeals.

For more information about the GCSC school breakfast or lunch program, persons may contact Carrico at 653-9771.