Needs

Why should a school or a community group invest time and resources to offer a meal that has traditionally been part of the private family sphere?

In Canada, one in 10 Canadian children (637,000) live in poverty and are at risk of starting their day on an empty stomach.

School breakfast programs aren’t intended as a replacement for morning family time. They become a valuable option when, for a number of reasons, breakfast in an alternate environment is a healthier choice for the child. For instance, schoolchildren may experience one or more of the following situations:

• Live in low income areas and don’t receive food or education about healthy meals at home;
   
• Receive the majority of their hot meals at school and so Monday morning breakfast becomes a crucial weekly necessity;

• Leave home too early for breakfast because of the long travel time to get to school;
   
• Need a safe place to go to early in the morning, due to parents work schedules;
   
• Find schoolwork difficult and can benefit from informal interactions with school staff in a non-threatening environment;
   
• Live in a home that doesn’t offer a safe and supportive environment;
   
• Need support interacting with their peers and those in other age groups;
   
• Need an opportunity to learn a new skill or take on a role of responsibility (if the breakfast program provides such additional opportunities).