Dr. Amanda Birnbaum Speaks at Event About the Importance of Breakfast for Children and Youth
Posted in: College News and Events
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) urged eligible families to take advantage of the free or reduced-cost breakfasts available to their children.
Gottheimer, a father of two, said that just 55 percent of eligible New Jersey students participate in the federally-funded School Breakfast Program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In Bergen County, which makes up part of New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District, more than 6,000 students who could receive breakfast under the program aren’t, Gottheimer said.
The first-term congressman addressed the issue at Jackson Avenue School in Hackensack Wednesday.
Advocates for Children of New Jersey estimates that more than $2.5 million in federal funds allocated for school lunch reimbursement go unused, according to Gottheimer.
“We are failing 8,100 students across the 5th District,” Gottheimer said. “That’s unacceptable.”
Experts agreed.
“There’s a lot of research that shows it’s pretty clear that students whose nutritional status is compromised — they don’t have great nutrition — eating school breakfasts is linked with all kinds of good outcomes.” said Dr. Amanda Birnbaum, professor and chair of the Department of Public Health at Montclair State University.”Even if your own child is well-fed, the whole classroom experience will be more effective if all the other children are well-fed. And that is the benefit and beauty of universal breakfast.”
One possible reason for the low enrollment is the fact that parents must submit proof of eligibility if their child is not automatically enrolled, which can change year to year.
Parents can enroll, or withdraw, their child in the program anytime during the school year.
“So, while we can all agree that breakfast is better than no-breakfasts, limited food budgets, or challenges with early work schedules and transportation in the morning make it difficult for many families to provide a healthy breakfast every morning,” Gottheimer said. “You can’t propel a rocket without fuel – the same goes for a growing student. They are rockets ready to take off. They won’t without the fuel in the tank.”