Breakfast After the Bell

an intervention to child food insecurity in Ypsilanti Township

food insecurity
"households were uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food to meet the needs of all their members
because they had insufficient money or other resources for food" 1

CHILDREN are especially vulnerable  to food insecurity.

Studies have shown that children who are food insecure have a higher risk of:
Requiring hospitalization 2
Developing chronic health conditions, like asthma and anemia 3,4
Truancy and school tardiness 5
Experiencing behavior problems, including fighting, aggression, and anxiety 6
Poorer physical quality of life, preventing them from fully engaging in school 2

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP

1 in 4 4.5x more 100%

children experience poverty 7 fast food restaurants than grocery stores 8 of students get free student meals 9

BREAKFAST AFTER THE BELL

Nationally, the school breakfast program is underutilized, with only 53% of qualified students participating in the
program. There are many barriers to eating breakfast at school, including stigma, hectic schedules, and competing
priorities. Breakfast after the bell breaks down these barriers, offering food insecure students the opportunity to get a
guaranteed, healthy meal to start the day off right and relieve the financial burden on food insecure families.10
Three models:
1. Breakfast in the Classroom: breakfast delivered directly to the classroom
2. Grab 'n' Go: breakfast served in prepackaged bags, distributed to students as they arrive
10
3. Second Chance: students pick up breakfast between 1st and 2nd period

I m m e d i a t e B e n e f i t s : 10
Breakfast participation (82%)
Student attentiveness (46%)
School environment (36%)
Classroom environment (29%)
Test scores (9%)
Graduation rates (8%)
L o n g T e r m B e n e f i t s : 11
Student hunger (66%) Students who attend class regularly
Tardy students (33%) are 20% more likely to graduate
Visits to school nurse (22%) High school graduates typically earn
Absenteeism (21%) >$10,000 more per year and have a
Disciplinary referrals (18%) 4% higher employment rate
 Julie Colbath
NUTR 642
December 2017
References: 
1. United States Department of Agriculture. Food Security in the U.S: Key Statistic & Graphics.
https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-
graphics/#foodsecure.

2. Cook JT, Frank DA, Levenson SM, et al. Child Food Insecurity Increases Risks Posed by Household
Food Insecurity to Young Children’s Health. Journal of Nutrition. 2006;136:1073-1076.

3. Eicher-Miller HA, Mason AC, Weaver CM, Mccabe GP, Boushey CJ. Food insecurity is associated
with iron deficiency anemia in US adolescents. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
2009;90(5):1358-1371. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.27886.

4. Kirkpatrick SI, Mcintyre L, Potestio ML. Child Hunger and Long-term Adverse Consequences for
Health. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 2010;164(8).
doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.117.

5. Murphy JM, Wehler CA, Pagano ME, Little M, Kleinman RE, Jellinek MS. Relationship Between
Hunger and Psychosocial Functioning in Low-Income American Children. Journal of the American
Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 1998;37(2):163-170. doi:10.1097/00004583-199802000-
00008.

6. Slopen N, Fitzmaurice G, Williams DR, Gilman SE. Poverty, Food Insecurity, and the Behavior for
Childhood Internalizing and Externalizing Disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child &
Adolescent Psychiatry. 2010;49(5):444-452. doi:10.1097/00004583-201005000-00005.

7. United States Census Bureau. Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010
Demographic Profile Data. https://factfinder.census.gov/.

8. Community Commons. Community Health Needs Assessment.

https://www.communitycommons.org/chna/.

9. Ypsilanti Community Schools. http://www.ycschools.us/.

10. Food Research and Action Center. School Breakfast After the Bell. http://frac.org/wp-
content/uploads/secondary-principals-bic-report.pdf.

11. No Kid Hungry. Ending Childhood Hunger: A Social Impact Analysis.

https://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/sites/default/files/resources/Deloitte_Brochure_2015.pdf.