Food Service Directors
“What nicer thing can you do for somebody than make them breakfast?”
—Anthony Bourdain (Chef)
School Breakfast Program - Steps to Start Smart
Food Service Directors are essential to the development and success of school breakfast programs. Your hard work and efforts in designing your school breakfast program will in turn impact student’s learning by fueling their day. With these three beginning steps, you will be on your way to success.
Build Your Team. Gather stakeholders by working with your school administration, teachers, parents, and community to gather interest in a successful breakfast program and create a team effort toward one goal. Click below for more info and resources!
Build Your Team
The purpose of your team is to discuss the many aspects of implementing a successful breakfast program, discuss concerns and find solutions, and make improvements to the program. Check out the talking points resource below.
Resources for download: Start Smart Talking Points (PDF)
Assess Your School. Take time to consider current practices, your staff’s strengths and weaknesses, and available resources when designing your operation and choosing a service model for your school breakfast program. Click below for more info and resources!
Assess Your School
Answer these questions with your breakfast team to assess the direction of your breakfast program:
Why do you think students may not be participating in a breakfast program?
What strengths can our school utilize to implement a successful program?
How does our school address a student who comes to school hungry in the morning?
When students arrive late, are they allowed to get breakfast after the bell?
What is our school community and stakeholder perceptions and attitudes toward school breakfast?
What current resources can be utilized for school breakfast? Staff? Equipment? Experience?
Does the current breakfast program generate revenue?
Can our school’s morning routines and classroom activities coincide with the service of breakfast?
Resources for download: Breakfast Workbook Assessment Section
Develop. You have now built your breakfast team of stakeholders and assessed your school. It is time to dive in to develop your breakfast program. If a breakfast program is a new venture, click Getting Started below. To build on your established program, click Improve My Program below.
If a breakfast program or alternative service style for your school is a new venture, click here for guided materials and resources.
If your breakfast program is established and you want to cultivate and expand your student outreach, click here for resources.
Breakfast Across Utah
Check out where and what models of breakfast programs are feeding Utah kids across the state!
How to use this Breakfast Map
- Move Map: Hold down Shift key and drag to area of Utah map to view.
- Expand Map to Full Screen: Click the far right icon at the bottom of the map.
- Reset Map: Click the Home icon next to Zoom functions in map.
- Zoom In/Out: Use the Plus sign to Zoom In and the Minus sign to Zoom Out.
Food Service Director Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do I have to start a breakfast program at my school?
A: In Utah’s 2020 legislative session, House Bill 222 was passed into law requiring breakfast programs in all schools to promote the access of breakfast meals to children.
Q: What is the difference between a traditional model and an alternative breakfast model for breakfast?
A: Traditional breakfast models provide breakfast before the bell and are typically served in the cafeteria. An alternative breakfast model is when breakfast is also offered and served after the bell.
Q: What is the difference between an alternative breakfast model and an alternative breakfast style?
A: Alternative breakfast model is when breakfast is offered after the start of the school day. Alternative breakfast styles are various ways to serve an alternative breakfast model. Examples of an alternative breakfast style is Breakfast in the Classroom, Second Chance, or Grab n’ Go.
Q: How do I know if my school must implement an alternative breakfast model?
A: Any school can choose to implement an alternative breakfast model. However, Utah Code 53G-9-205.1 indicates schools who have the following free or reduced percentages will need to implement an alternative breakfast model by the following school years:
- 70% or higher and starts alternative breakfast service SY21-22
- 50% or higher and starts alternative breakfast service SY22-23
- 30% or higher and starts alternative breakfast service SY23-24
- Less than 30% and is not required but encourages alternative breakfast
Q: Does serving alternative breakfast models (breakfast after the bell) cost more than traditional service?
A: Possibly, however, breakfast after the bell makes financial sense. School breakfast is a federal program and the meals are reimbursed by the federal government. In the short term, it is cost-effective for high-need schools, many of whom are facing significant financial strain. With increases in food cost and labor, there is potential the higher participation will more than cover those costs.
Q: What do I have to do to get started?
A: It’s best to gather support from stakeholders, such as your school administration, parents, teachers, custodial staff, and any community partners. Your program will be more successful if your team is on the same page. Assess what your school needs are for breakfast, then, you can click Get Started above to find resources to implement your breakfast program.