Rosalee Brown

Most parents and caregivers agree that breakfast is an important meal for their children. These parents usually prepare for this important meal by acquiring and preparing food items which are nutritious and favoured by their children.

There is a group of children, however, who arrive at school on most or all mornings without breakfast. Many of these children are 'picky' eaters and have food battles with their parents in the mornings. Another group of children lives in disorganised homes, often running too late in the mornings to have breakfast.

There is yet another group of children who live by themselves most of the time and so there is no responsible person at home to ensure that breakfast is eaten. The final groupis unfortunately a large group, where caregivers are at home but often have no resources to prepare breakfast; these children go to school daily without breakfast.

Often the fast is broken with a sugary snack such as candy, bag juice and 'trixs'. I have seen this over and over again, having been privileged to visit numerous schools over Jamaica early in the mornings. I often arrive before start time to see children getting 'their fix' from vendors. These vendors are many times a part of the school community.

School breakfast programmes

A healthy breakfast idea is some porridge, milk and a fruit drink. - photo by Shelly-Ann Thompson

Breakfast is not one of the meals provided by the government-funded school feeding programme in Jamaica. Many schools however operate a programme that provide a meal for children who leave home without breakfast.

Because this is not a programme funded by the government, the schools have to finance the staff that runs these programmes. Volunteers working with these programmes include teachers (who get to school before their scheduled time), parents, non- governmental organisations such as citizens' associations, churches, past students and service clubs.

In western Jamaica, I am personally aware of programmes sponsored by the Kiwanis and Lions Clubs and I am sure many other service clubs are involved in similar programme. My club, the Kiwanis Club of Providence, has been involved with the programme at Bogue Hill All Age and the Lions Club of St. James is involved with the programme at Success Primary.

The Caribbean Association of Dietitians and Nutritionists collaborated with the Lions Club at our regional conference in June when we made a field visit to Success Primary and made a substantial donation to the programme. Corporate Jamaica is also involved; for example, when I worked at GraceKennedy, I know they were heavily involved in breakfast feeding programmes and Iimagine they are still involved.

Many schools are not able to prepare a cooked breakfast on the school premises. Meals can, however, be prepared and transported in time for breakfast or many other convenient solutions can be found such as:

Offer fruits which do not require cooking.

At least two companies offer convenient packaged porridges which only need hot water; an electric kettle will do the trick.

There are tetra packs of plain and flavoured milk and soy.

Crackers and cheese, etceteras

Breakfast need not be extravagant, just nutritious. A two or three mix from the food groups will suffice, as the meals for the rest of the day will supply other missing groups. Easy examples are staple, food from animals and fruits such bread, cheese and orange juice, or cornmeal, milk and apple.

We are hoping that breakfast feeding programmes will become a part of the government- funded programmes, but until then, Jamaicans adults should continue to find solutions to feed their children in the mornings.