On the Friday before Christmas, Food+Tech Connect brings you a graphic from the USDA’s Economic Research Service to help put things into perspective.
In 1989, 3.7 million students received breakfast at school. By 2010, that number had more than tripled to 11.6 million students participating daily. Most of those getting breakfast at school are also in high need; 75 percent of the 1.9 billion breakfasts served were free and 9 percent were provided at reduced price. Spending for the program also increased by 10 percent from 2009 to $2.8 billion.
More information on school breakfast programs, their impact on learning and on children’s nutritional status can be found here.