National School Breakfast Week Campaign Encourages Students to Try School Breakfast
To encourage more families to take advantage of the healthy choices available with school breakfast, Ottumwa Community School District will celebrate National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) during March 2-6, 2026.
Busy weekday mornings make it a challenge for many families to find time for a healthy breakfast. Fortunately, Ottumwa schools offer nutritious school breakfasts, complete with fruit and low-fat or fat-free milk, to ensure students are fueled for learning every school day. Each morning, every school offers a hot or cold entrée option, with a selection of fresh fruit, juices, and ice-cold milk.
The 2026 NSBW campaign theme, “The Quest for School Breakfast,” reminds the entire school community that school breakfast provides a healthy and energizing start to the day for students.
Studies show that students who eat school breakfast are more likely to:
- Reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math
- Score higher on standardized tests
- Have better concentration and memory
- Be more alert
- Maintain a healthy weight
School nutrition professionals and students will be encouraged to show their enthusiasm for school breakfast from March 2-6 as the district celebrates NSBW. Encourage your student to check out breakfast at their school.
“A healthy breakfast at the start of the day is a great way to ensure students are nourished and ready to learn,” said Yvonne Johnson, Director of Food & Nutrition Services for Ottumwa Schools. “National School Breakfast Week helps us remind parents and students about all the nutritious and delicious choices we offer.”
National School Breakfast Week was launched in 1989 to raise awareness of the availability of the School Breakfast Program, a federally assisted meal program operating in public and non-profit private schools and residential child care institutions since 1975.
