Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus and U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Regional Administrator Patricia Dombroski in celebration of a National School Breakfast Week shared a breakfast of cereal, low fat milk, juice and yogurt Monday morning with fourth graders from Anthony V. Ceres Elementary School.
Dombroski, who ate bananas and yogurt with the children, said research shows eating breakfast helps children to be ready to learn.
"Breakfast can be the single most important meal of the day for children, helping them to perform better at school," Kuperus said. "Our Department of Agriculture nutrition programs can lay the groundwork for these students to live healthier lives as adults."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture administers the School Breakfast Program at the federal level, providing cash subsidies and donated commodities for each meal served. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture operates the program in the state. The program, established in 1966, provides nutritionally balanced breakfasts in public and nonprofit private school and residential child-care institutions. Those breakfast are required to provide one-third of the recommended dietary allowances for protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium and calories.
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