United Dairy Industry of Michigan is Helping Make Breakfast Easy – and Healthy
Ring. Ring. Ringggg! The alarm goes off and you’re up and running. You’re making sure the kids are dressed, homework is done, and everything is packed for after-school activities.
Rise and shine? More like rise and scramble in my house. Breakfast isn’t always a top priority. But when I heard about all the benefits of a healthy breakfast, it got my attention.
Feeding kids a healthy and complete breakfast is one of the most important things you can do to prepare them for success in school.
Read on to find out why breakfast is so important and dairy’s important role in it. You don’t even have to take my word for it – hear from school personnel about the benefits they see in their classrooms when students eat breakfast at school.
This article is brought to you by United Dairy Industry of Michigan.
From cognition and a strong immune system to optimal growth and development, dairy foods pair with other nutritious foods like fruits, veggies and whole grains to provide an overall healthy diet that growing children need to thrive.
From making the first bites count to building good eating habits, dairy foods contribute to healthy brains, bones and bodies.
Breakfast + Dairy = Ready to Learn
What if I told you there was one thing you could do each morning to positively impact your child’s mood, boost their energy level, and improve their academic performance?
Well, my friends, there is. That thing can be as simple as a smoothie, as easy as fruit and a bowl of yogurt, and as yummy as pancakes.
It’s important that it’s a well-rounded breakfast, too. While I may be inclined to grab a banana on the way to the minivan, I know my kids need a complete breakfast that includes dairy. Milk is often the perfect way to round out breakfast.
“Milk is the beverage that goes hand-in-hand with breakfast. It goes with everything,” says Mary Kurkowski, Director of Food Nutrition Services at Port Huron Schools.
Research shows that breakfast boosts students’ academic performance, grades and test scores. It increases concentration, alertness, comprehension and memory (maybe they’ll even remember where they left their shoes!).
Breakfast also improves classroom behavior and reduces absenteeism and tardiness.
Sara Harmon with the Michigan Department of Education says students who eat breakfast not only have higher test scores and academic performance, but “they also tend to just have better overall focus with their peers and less disruptions in the classroom. Overall, it helps them be a better student and person.”
All that, and delicious, too.
UDIM Supports Healthy Breakfasts for Kids
The United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) is passionate about child nutrition and wellness. They’ve worked for years to bring nutrition education programs to schools across Michigan. UDIM partners with schools to ensure kids get a healthy breakfast each school day.
Schools can apply for Moo-lah for Schools grants to support getting their students healthy breakfast each day. UDIM brought support to breakfast programs in 115 schools in 2024. Yours could be next! The application window is open and all schools in Michigan are eligible.
“The [school] breakfast program is so important. If you get to school and have three or four hours before lunch and haven’t eaten anything, you don’t have the energy,” emphasizes Mary Kurkowski. “Kids can’t focus.”
UDIM’s Health and Wellness Director Brianna Henton says the biggest win for breakfast at school is how it impacts classroom behaviors. “Classrooms tend to be calmer because they have fed their students,” she remarks.
Any parent or teacher knows that a calmer classroom is one set up for success. And Michigan School Meals program ensures all breakfasts (and lunches too) served to public-school students PreK-12, are free to all children for the 2024-2025 school year.
Breakfast Recipes to Fuel the School Day
Maybe you like to feed your kids before they head out the door (or school is at home!). Having healthy and easy breakfast options, made with ingredients you likely already have, is a game changer.
Here are a few of our favorites:
| Mini Greek Yogurt Pancakes with Cinnamon Maple Topping | Mini pancakes are just fun. These ones, made with yogurt and fruit and topped with cinnamon and syrup, are delicious and healthy. |
| Breakfast Casserole | Who doesn’t love a good casserole? This one made with eggs, potatoes, ham, and Swiss cheese will send the whole family off happy and full of energy. |
| Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats | Wake up to the smell of cinnamon and apples. Don’t mind if I do! Make-ahead this hearty breakfast option for those extra-busy mornings. |
| Blueberry Apple Crisp Smoothie Bowl | Smoothies are always a hit in our house. Packed with fruit and yogurt, and so easy kids can even make them on their own (win, win!). |
| Breakfast at School | Check out your local school’s website to see what’s on the menu for breakfast at school. |
Give Kids a Good Start with Breakfast
There’s a lot on the plates of parents and caregivers, especially on busy mornings. But when we know something is important, we make it happen.
“We do it because breakfast is extremely important for young kids. It gives them a fresh start, gives them energy to go throughout the day,” reminds Gavin Wisel, Elementary Principal at Concord Elementary School.
Make serving a well-rounded breakfast a priority in your home or school and see the results for yourself!
