Starting Your Program
Getting Started with Breakfast
After building your supportive team of stakeholders and assessing your school; it’s time to start smart by developing your breakfast program and setting goals. Begin by determining what required breakfast model or style is the right fit for your school. Utilize the questions below by selecting the answers to guide you to the next steps in developing your program.
Breakfast should have SMART Goals
Setting goals for your breakfast program will help guide decision making when creating plans. Specific objectives and goals that are SMART should be:
SPECIFIC
MEASUREABLE
ATTAINABLE
REALISTIC
TIME-BASED
Your School’s Breakfast Requirements
Our school participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)?
Yes
That's great!Does your school have a breakfast program in the morning?
No
Start Smart Utah Breakfast Program is only required for those who serve lunch under the National School Lunch Program. Consider serving breakfast to benefit students.
Our school has a breakfast program in the morning
Yes
Yes! Click here for more breakfast Resources.
No
Schools participating in NSLP must implement a School Breakfast Program. See the table below for when schools are required to begin service.
Our school site’s free/reduced percentage is:
70% or higher
Start an alternative breakfast service SY22-23.
50% or higher
Start an alternative breakfast service SY22-23.
30% or higher
Start an alternative breakfast service SY23-24.
Less than 30%
Not required, but encouraged to serve alternative breakfast style.
Choosing Your Breakfast Service Style
It is time to dive deep into organizing your operations and service. Whether your school may be required to start a traditional style breakfast or an alternative style breakfast, helpful tips for each service style can be found below. Traditional breakfast service does not need to be limited to service before the bell and can offer a second service style after the bell. Explore all styles to fit your student and school’s needs in the morning.
Traditional Breakfast Service
Breakfast is offered prior to the start of the instructional day. It can be served in the cafeteria or other points of service such as grab n’ go carts before the bell rings.
Helpful TipsBreakfast in the Classroom
Breakfast is offered to all students in the classroom when the school day starts. After the bell, breakfast is pick up or delivered by student or staff in insulated coolers to the classroom.
Helpful TipsGrab n’ Go Breakfast
Breakfast can be packaged as a reimbursable meal, ready to be picked up from one or more central locations and consumed in the classroom or a common area.
Helpful TipsSecond Chance Breakfast
Students are offered a meal during their first break or recess through Grab n' Go or cafeteria service. Students can eat in the classroom or designated area before resuming learning.
Helpful TipsCheck out the benefits of alternative breakfast service styles!
Breakfast in the Classroom
Grab 'n Go
Second Chance Breakfast
Start Your Menu Planning Smart
Your breakfast program will be centered around your menu. It drives many decisions for your operation, including choice of equipment, staffing, and student participation and satisfaction.
It is essential to conduct meal costing, complete training on the breakfast meal pattern, develop recipes, and making sure your menu is student approved. To learn more, click on the button above for menu planning resources.
Basic Breakfast Resources
Check out these breakfast resources to get started.
(Best viewed on laptop or desktop.)
Breakfast Planning
The Start Smart Breakfast Workbook and the Alternative Breakfast Handbook are tools created to assist school food service directors in customizing school breakfast programs. The workbook provides a thorough exercises for assessment, planning, and development of your school breakfast program. The Alternative Breakfast Handbook will provide the background to Utah’s breakfast legislation and an in depth definition of alternative breakfast styles with helpful examples and scenarios.
Resource: Start Smart Breakfast Workbook (PDF)
Resource: Alternative Breakfast Handbook (PDF)
Breakfast Budgeting
An important part of planning is calculating your estimated breakfast budget. Use the formula in the image below to determine an estimated revenue for your school breakfast program. Utilize the USDA Profit/Loss Tool to account for all costs and revenue. If considering implementing a Universal Free Breakfast program or reducing the cost of breakfast, check out the resource below.
Resource: Downloadable Budget Tool (Excel Spreadsheet)
Resource: Universal Free Breakfast (PDF)
Breakfast Training
One of the first tasks in planning your breakfast program is to complete your breakfast meal pattern training. Understanding the breakfast meal pattern will help you offer a variety of whole grain, fruit, and milk options while serving reimbursable meals. Click the links below to enroll in the Breakfast Meal Pattern Course and the Breakfast Offer Versus Serve Course on the Child Nutrition Programs Canvas page.
Forms and Resources
There are many aspects to consider when starting a school breakfast program. Below you will find introductory information to the USDA School Breakfast Program, program implementation timelines, and classroom food safety and sanitation to get you started on the basics.
Resource: USDA School Breakfast Program Fact Sheet (PDF)
Resource: No Kid Hungry Rollout Timeline (PDF)
Resource: No Kid Hungry Classroom Clean Up (PDF)
Marketing
Promoting your breakfast program is vital to increasing your school breakfast participation. Marketing your breakfast program ensures your students know breakfast is available and a great way to start their day. The resources below contain ideas to promote your breakfast program along with customizable daily menu templates to display your breakfast menus.
Resource: No Kid Hungry Breakfast Promotion Strategies (PDF)
Resource: Daily Menu Templates! (PDF)
Visit the Resource Library!