The Foodbank WA School Breakfast Program is an important program operated by Foodbank WA which benefits the community by improving the social determinants of health (health, education and employment) for high risk students and communities in WA.
The common catalyst for schools wishing to establish a breakfast program is students presenting to school with little, no or an inadequate breakfast. Through the program, students not only receive a nutritionally wholesome breakfast, they benefit from the many positive social, educational and health promotion aspects of the program.
The Foodbank WA School Breakfast Program commenced in 2001, with 17 schools. Since then, the program has reached over 360 schools right across metropolitan, rural and remote Western Australia.
Through the School Breakfast Program, Foodbank WA served over 33,938 breakfasts per week to 254 registered schools in 2009. So far in 2010, the School Breakfast Program is serving over 36,441 breakfasts per week to 277 registered schools. The food supplied to schools is purchased with funds donated specifically for the program.
What are the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast?
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Body energy reserves are depleted overnight and there is a need to refuel in the morning. Studies show that children who do not eat breakfast have reduced memory function, poorer attention spans and reduced performance in tasks requiring concentration than those children who do consume an adequate breakfast.
Consuming a healthy breakfast not only improves a child’s overall memory, attention span and concentration it also provides the body with adequate nutrients needed for the day.
Studies also show that children who eat a healthy breakfast are less likely to snack on unhealthy foods and therefore reduce the risk of obesity and resulting health problems such as Type II Diabetes.
About Foodbank WA
Foodbank WA opened in Perth in 1994. It is a non denominational, not for profit organization. Foodbank WA provides a bridge of support between the food industry and community support agencies looking after Western Australians in need, many of whom are children.
Since opening it has redistributed over 21 million kilograms of edible food to the people of Western Australia. Without Foodbank WA this food would have gone to landfill, thus saving 210,000 cubic metres of landfill.
This year Foodbank WA will supply over 2.5 million kilograms of food that was previously being used as landfill. Foodbank WA supports over 650 community agencies and over 270 schools.
There are regional branches of Foodbank WA in Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton and Mandurah.
