Kids who eat a healthy breakfast are more prepared to succeed during the school day, and school breakfast ensures affordable access for all students to this important meal. Each year during National School Breakfast Week and National Nutrition Month, Dairy MAX hosts the Fuel Up to Play 60 Breakfast Games, an interactive Olympic-style event, to highlight the importance of breakfast.
This year’s Breakfast Games took place during National School Breakfast Week at Meadow Creek Elementary in Bedford, Texas, and Purple Sage Elementary in Houston, Texas. Both schools were selected to host the Breakfast Games because of their dedicated efforts to increase breakfast availability and participation among their students as well as their participation in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, which educates over 29 million students about nutrition and physical activity in a fun, engaging way and empowers them to be leaders in their schools.
Each day’s events kicked off with the school’s Fuel Up to Play 60 student teams eating breakfast with some very special guests. At Meadow Creek, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown spoke to students about why good nutrition is important to success on and off the field. Dairy farmer Mark Sustaire of Sustaire Dairy shared what life on his dairy farm looks like, and how he takes care of his cows to make sure they are comfortable every day. At Purple Sage, Houston Texans center Nick Martin spoke to students about eating healthy and playing 60 minutes a day, while dairy farmer David Jackson of Bentwood Dairy educated students on the nutritional goodness of dairy and how that gets from his farm to the dairy on their plates.
The main event of the Breakfast Games consists of a fast-paced obstacle course, and elements of nutrition are built into the physical course. Both of this year’s school teams finished the course in record time, while their classmates, teachers and special guests cheered from the sidelines. The student teams were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals in a special Olympic-style ceremony afterwards.
While the Fuel Up to Play 60 Breakfast Games only take place once a year, the importance of breakfast and the excitement generated among the students is lasting. Educating students on the benefits of eating healthy, balanced meals, particularly at breakfast, empowers them to take charge of their health and make positive decisions moving forward.
Want your child’s school to be involved in Fuel Up to Play 60? Check out FuelUptoPlay60.com for more information.
