Doughnuts for Breakfast in Public Schools?

on November 6, 2009 at 7:00 AM

Here in Chicago, parents are in an uproar over reports that despite all the healthy options available as part of the free breakfasts offered by public schools, most kids go for the doughnuts.

The good news? This is the first year that public schools in Chicago are offering free breakfast to almost every student.

The bad news? Students are allowed to choose three items for breakfast, and most of them are opting for a (fortified!) doughnut paired with other sugary, processed items including Kellogg's Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, and French toast with syrup. Needless to say, they are bypassing items like apples and oatmeal in favor of the high-sugar items.

True, a high-sugar breakfast is better than no breakfast at all (which would be the case for many of these students). And, the items offered as part of the breakfast in the classroom program supposedly do meet the requirements established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

However, nutrition experts are worried that sugary, processed options not only cause children to sleepy and inattentive in school, but also contribute to our nation's growing weight-related health problems including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. In effect, they warn that our kids are "learning" in school that it's okay to eat doughnuts every morning for breakfast. What does this mean for their future eating habits?

The solution? Some parents are advocating to only serve healthy options as part of the breakfast in the classroom programs.

What do you think? Does your school have free breakfast? Are kids allowed to eat doughnuts every day?

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About the author Kim Conte

has shoes that make people stop her on the street and ask "Where did you get those?" but it doesn't work for taxi cabs as she was hit by one ... and lived to tell the tale. She has more freckles than Lohan but way less attitude. And she's a fierce cook with tons of recipes to share -- and wishes she could share some with Bourdain.

Filed Under: breakfast, food

Comments (11)

tgiamt

on Nov 6, 2009 at 8:40 AM

They probably shouldnt offer doughnuts everyday. Maybe on fridays.

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aurorabunny

on Nov 6, 2009 at 8:57 AM

*head into desk*

ethans_momma06

on Nov 7, 2009 at 11:47 AM

Yes, because we certainly shouldn't try personal responsibility. After all, it's the donuts that are making those kids fat, not the fact that they made a bad decision.

What about the children who ARE eating the healthy meal, and take the donut or the cereal once a week as a treat to themselves? Should they be punished?

kaylajean86

on Nov 8, 2009 at 10:16 AM

yea ok lets make our children FAT...how discusting

on Nov 8, 2009 at 10:48 AM

Children aren't little adults though..we can't expect them to choose a healthy breakfast over a doughnut. I wish that we could, but I wouldn't.

RebekahsMommy06

on Nov 8, 2009 at 10:56 AM

I think maybe a better option would be to say perhaps once a week you could choose a donought, or as part of your three choices 2 have to be healthy and one sugary. If we completely take away the "bad for you" options, how will they ever learn restraint once they are faced with these options in a non-controlled environment? And yes, at least they are getting breakfast!

musicgirl77

on Nov 8, 2009 at 2:49 PM

We can look down our noses all we want at such a thing, given the obesity problem we struggle with. BUT----we need to be practical also. Public schools' budgets have been slashed and slashed and slashed and LOTS of curriculums and programs have been, or will be cut. ALOT of schools KNOW that the only meals many of their kids get are at school. So what they offer has to be cheap. Cheap foods are NOT healthy foods!! Would you rather, little children be hungry or have a full stomach, no matter WHAT is in that stomach? It's proven that children do not learn on an empty stomach. They are stuggling with enough obstacles in life these days, don't penalize the schools for trying to feed them.

CM.Ult.Cookbook

on Nov 8, 2009 at 3:08 PM

Our school doesn't offer free breakfast, but they can get it if they pay for it. Mine eat at home anyway. :-)

tupperlove

on Nov 10, 2009 at 3:31 PM

I think schools do the best they can with what is offered to them... be it cheap or even free. Let's be honest... moms and parents do the best they can for their kids in the same way. Even the 'best moms' or 'perfect moms' go cheap and give in to their kids bad food nutrition. More often than they realize it themselves. I see it ALL the time. Yes, our school offer free breakfasts and thank goodness the kids have something! It makes a big difference from going without to going with something to prove to kids (and families) that we love them and want them to eat, too. The school does not offer doughnuts everyday, but it is usually something doughnut-like. As I watch these kids run for their one share of breakfast, their faces light up and off they go running to enjoy the company of friends --yes burning off those unwanted fat, sugary calories before class.

Mama0f3grlz

on Nov 11, 2009 at 8:58 AM

My daughter recently started eating breakfast at school and I assumed they had cereal but I was hoping there were also healthier options. She came home and told me they were serving poptarts, doughnuts, french toast with syrup and muffins. That was definitely a WTF moment for me. They don't even offer yogurt, oatmeal or fresh fruit. Surely those things cost as much as poptarts or muffins?