UNITED STATES JAYCEES CENTER
FOR
IMPROVED CHILD NUTRITION
in cooperation with
FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FNS-103
s
INTRODUCTION
The material you are about to
read is an investment brochure
-one that can alter the destiny
of your town or city for generations
to come.
Here is the opportunity to deal
with mental retardation, upgrade
public health, and improve
education, all in one program.
Here is the chance to bring more
of your tax dollar home, increase
employment, and expand the
purchasing power within your
community while providing your
children with the greatest prerequisite
tor developmentproper
nutrition.
It the national school food service
programs sound like a
simplistic cure-all for society's
ills, please peruse the following
pages of testimony and judge
tor yourself.
ISSUED JULY 1973
WHY ESTABLISH A SCHOOL FOOD
PROGRAM?
In America today there are over 5 million children
in over 18,000 schools, who are unable to obtain
access to school food programs. For many,
the school breakfast and lunch is their only opportunity
for a balanced, nutritional meal during the
day. It is therefore not surprising that:
Benefits to the child-
Where school food programs have been introduced,
they have had an incredible impact on:
1. Drastically reducing the dropout rate.
2. Improving academic performance by as
much as a grade and one half.
3. Substantially reducing health care prob·
lems and costs.
In other words, the school food programs have
been a key factor in producing a healthier, more
educated citizenry that is far more able to break
the poverty cycle.
Benefits to the community-
1. Greater share of the tax dollar returning
home. The Federal government reimburses
each meal at the following rates:
All Lunches-8 cents (Statewide average)
reimbursement for all lunches
Free-40 cents additional for free lunches
{for needy children)
Reduced Price-40 cents less amount of
child's payment {for needy children)
Breakfast-S cents for paid breakfast
20 cents for free breakfast (for needy children)
15 cents for reduced price breakfast (for
needy children)
For schools with especially needy students,
where the above assistance is not enough to affect
the large number of free or reduced price meals,
assistance can be paid up to the full cost of providing
meals up to 60 cents for lunch, 30 cents for
free breakfast, and 20 cents for reduced price
breakfast.
Multiply this by the number of students in
your school, times the number of school
days per year, and you find quite an increased
purchasing power circulating in
your community.
WHY ESTABLISH A SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAM?
2. Increased employment. Employment can increase
anywhere from 1-150 people, depending
on the size of the feeding operation.
3. Future citizens. Statistics reveal that a
child without a high school diploma, and
especially one in poor health, has a far
better chance of ending up on welfare than
the healthy, educated individual.
The school board that invests in a school
food program is simply widening the tax
base for years to come.
The Jaycees feel that it is far less costly
and far more humane to deal with a child
nutritionally during his formative years,
than to have to pay for him medically and
on welfare in later years.
TESTIMONY
The Jaycees is an organization that demands
that contentions be fully substantiated. The following
is testimony from across the Nation, dealing
with results of school food programs.
TESTIMONY
0'-../0
EDUCATION
DROPOUT RATE
TEXAS-"We strongly believe that school lunch
funding is an investment in hungry children. We
think it has in fact kept them in school and our
records will so verify. It has not only kept them in
school for an extra year, it has kept them in school
until graduation time ... Our dropout problem is
almost nil in our school district and I think the
food program has been a big, contributing fac-tor."
1
B.P. Taylor, Superintendent
San Diego, Texas Independent
School District
IMPROVED ATTITUDE AND PROGRESS
CALIFORNIA-"Reports of students' progress in
schools with first time lunch programs were astounding.
Drowsy, lethargic youngsters were transformed
simply because they were able to eat at
least one good meal a day. Many schools reported
a decrease in absenteeism." 1
Frances E. McGlone, Chairman
California School Food Service Association
State Nutrition Committee
ILLINOIS-"There was improvement in class
studies, especially in the primary grades, since we
got the Breakfast Program." 2
Ms. Emilia Lepthus, Principal
Wicker Park Elementary,
Chicago, Illinois
KANSAS-"The effect is obvious. They learn
more and don't zonk out at10 o'clock in the morning.
The kids are sharper and more disposed to
learning." 2
Mr. Doyle Barnes, Principal
Woodrow Wilson Elementary School
Manhattan, Kansas
morning and a generally bad atmosphere." 2
Mr. William De Grace, Principal
Fairview Elementary
Fairfield, California
CALIFORNIA-"Troublemakers were problems
because of hunger." 2
Mr. Robert Way, Principal
Gate Street Elementary
Los Angeles, California
NEW YORK-"1 was very much opposed to this
(the School Breakfast Program) when I first heard
it discussed. After watching the program in operation,
I have only good things to say for it. The
children were amazingly well behaved; they came
to the room more relaxed and contented, and I
fell it made a real difference in many of the children."
2
Mrs. Margaret Peche, Teacher
Beaver Valley School
Corning, New York
WEST VIRGINIA-"The breakfast settles the
class down. It is easier to get started in our work." 2
Mrs. Catherine Lewis, Teacher
Chandler Elementary
Charleston, West Virginia
HEALTH
KANSAS-"1 don't get nearly the complaints
about headaches and stomach pains as in the past.
The change was remarkable." 2
Ms. Dorothy Wauthier, School Nurse
Woodrow Wilson Elementary
Manhattan, Kansas
IOWA-"School nurses have said that fewer
TARDINESS AND ABSENTEEISM
COLORADO-"We've had 25% less tardiness
and at least 10% less truancy since the Breakfast
Program began. In fact, there has been an obvious
change in attitude toward coming to school." 2
Mr. Rosco Giossi, Principal
John Dewey Junior High School
Mapleton, Colorado
SOUTH CAROLINA-"The Breakfast Program
helped to improve the attendance of many of the
chronic absentees and also helped to improve
chronic tardiness." 2
Ms. Mildred T. Foster, Principal
Lincoln Elementary School
Gaffney, South Carolina
KANSAS-"My absenteeism is much improved
over the past. It is now almost negligible." 2
Ms. Sandra Floyd, Teacher
Woodrow Wilson Elementary
Manhattan, Kansas
KENTUCKY-"Attendance is encouraged by the
Program because parents know their children receive
two good meals a day-more than they
would probably get at home." 2
Mr. Hayward Gilliam, Superintendent of
Schools
Laurel County, Kentucky
BEHAVIOR
CALIFORNIA-"Now there are no discipline
problems in the morning. Two years ago, before
the Breakfast Program, it was very noisy in the
•
children come to their offices at midmorning com-plaining
of stomachaches. Teachers have reported
that sores around the mouths of some students
are disappearing with the intake of orange juice." 2
Iowa Department of Public Issue
Notes #43, April19, 1971
WEST VIRGINIA-"! feel they (the students)
work much better after they have breakfast ... I
do not have children complaining about being
hungry as was the case before we started breakfast."
2
Ms. Gloria Steward, Teacher
Chandler Elementary
Charleston, West Virginia
NEW YORK-"The children usually tumble out
of bed the last minute, and in a rush to prepare
for school and catch a bus they lose all interest
in food. Many times they come to the office about
an hour after arriving with stomachaches or other
physical complaints. I have noticed less of this
since the Program has been introduced here." 2
Ms. Pauline Saunders, Office Secretary
Beaver VaHey School
Corning, New York
Footnotes: . .
1. Hearings before the Senate Select Committee on Nutnllon
and Human Needs. Oct. 13, 1972.
2. If We Had Ham, We Could Have Ham and Eggs, If We Had
Eggs-A Study of the National School Breakfast Program.
The Food Research and Action Center. 1972.
SURVEY OF PILOT BREAKFAST PROGRAM
SURVEY OF
PILOT BREAKFAST PROGRAM
taken by teachers, principals, and coordinators
37% Improved in health as indicated by fewer
complaints of headaches and not feeling
well.
52% Showed improvements in behavior by being
less restless, less irritable, and creating fewer
disciplinary problems.
54% Were more active in games and activities
during recess.
55% Attended class more regularly.
56% Improved in attitude by being more cheerful
and helpful.
60% Socialized at breakfast and settled down to
work.
66% Showed an increase in attention span during
the morning.
Reported by Ms. Perle Hawthorne
Developmental Programs
Board of Education
Bridgeport, Conn.
WHAT IS AVAILABLENATIONAL
SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM
All public and non-profit private schools are eligible
to participate in the National School Lunch
Program and the School Breakfast Program. These
programs are administered by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture in cooperation with State Departments
of Education who in turn enter into agreements
with local schools. This makes the school
feeding programs essentially a community effort.
LUNCH
No longer must limited space or limited funds de-and
require a minimum of preparation equipment.
It's ideal for schools who need nutrition "now"
but who have limited facilities to serve meals.
6. Bag Lunch-This old reliable can provide
milk, sandwiches, and fruits and/or vegetables
quickly and easily. It provides a good interim
option until a hot lunch program can begin.
Suggestions and Ideas:
1. If you are interested in the Hot Bt.Jik or TwinPack
methods but your school system has no central
kitchen, check into buying your meals from
a hospital, another school, or some other large
institution whose kitchen might be producing be-
prive your students of a wholesome, nutritious
school lunch. The goal of serving a Federally approved
Type A lunch, which must consist of meat
or a high protein alternate, vegetable and/or
fruits, bread and butter or margarine, and milk,
can now be realized through a number of different
feeding systems, one of which can be tailored
to fit the needs and the budget of the schools in
your community.
1. On-Site Cafeteria-This traditional method of
preparing the entire meal at the school's own
kitchen facility provides for the maximum in menu
flexibility and in local quality control. It does,
however, require the largest investment in equipment
and space.
2. Hot Bulk-Lunches are prepared in bulk quantities
in a kitchen outside of the school, packaged
for delivery, transported to their destination, and
then served. The individual school needs only the
serving equipment and eating area.
3. Twin-Pack-An individual hot pack containing
the day's entree and a vegetable, together with
a cold pack containing bread, butter or margarine,
fruit and eating utensils, comprise the TwinPack
system. The packages are prepared outside
of the school, but unlike the Hot Bulk system, ar·
rive at their destination cold. A convection oven
to reheat the hot pack at meal time is the only
serving equipment required.
4. Frozen Pre-plate-With these commercially
prepared, TV dinner-like lunches, all you do is heat
in an on-site oven and serve. By adding bread and
butter or margarine, fruit and milk, the lunch is
complete. The menu can offer great variation and
little labor or equipment is needed.
5. Cup-Can-Lunch can now be served to students
in pre-packaged 8 ounce cans. These entrees,
such as beef stew, chili, and spaghetti and
meatballs, when combined with bread and butter
or margarine, fruit and milk, can be served easily
low full capacity.
2. School buses, as well as cafeteria employeeowned
station wagons, serve as excellent delivery
vehicles for Hot Bulk and Twin-Pack food.
3. The Twin-Pack containers, dishes for Hot
Bulk, and silverware for all systems can be either
reusable or disposable depending on which
method best fits your needs.
4. Short on space? Fold-up, roller type tables
can turn a gymnasium or multi-purpose room into
an eating area. The Twin-Pack, Frozen Pre-plate,
Cup-Can, and the Bag Lunch can easily be served
in the classroom. What better opportunity for nutrition
education?
5. The same dairy that delivers your milk might
be willing to store and then daily deliver Frozen
Pre-plate lunches.
6. Volunteers can easily be used in making Bag
Lunches.
BREAKFAST
Equipment costs do not hinder the implementation
of a breakfast program. Almost no equipment
is required-just a milk cooler. Two types
of breakfasts are available-the conventional
breakfast and the special formulated breakfast
that may be used interchangeably.
Conventional Breakfast
Consists of one slice of whole grain or enriched
bread or rolls, etc., or whole grain or enriched
cereal; Y2 cup of fruit juice or fruit, and one cup
of milk. Individual-sized packages of cereal with
juice and milk make a very easy method of serving
breakfast.
Special Formulated Breakfast
Consists of a baked product that combines the
fruit and bread in one product, plus milk. These
products are specially approved by USDA and
offer a quick and easy breakfast for the schools
to serve.
HOW DO WE GET INVOLVED?
The "Handbook for Volunteers for Child Nutrition
Programs," produced by the Food and Nutrition
Service, gives many ideas for volunteers to become
involved in all aspects of Child Nutrition
Programs. Rem.ember,. our prime goal is to get
makes contact with schools and instructs
teachers and administrators in the most efficient,
convenient way of operating the program.
MANPOWER SUPERVISOR: Recruits volunteers
from local P.T.A.'s so that daily each school has
three adults to fork out needed items for each
classroom and to supervise their distribution.
Programs. Rem.ember,~ our prime goal is to get
the schools involved in starting a lunch or breakfast
program. Specifically, you can be the coordinator
of local community support for starting a
lunch or breakfast program.
Remember, your main goal is to-
GET THE SCHOOL BOARD TO SUBMIT
AN APPLICATION!
If you do need help in particular areas, please
remember that the Jaycees have a National Center
for Improved Child Nutrition that will do everything
it can to aid you directly or direct your key
personnel.
WHAT THE JAYCEES CAN DO
The Jaycees have built their fine communityservice
reputation on their ability to see existing
local problems, to formulate programs that meet
the needs, and then to set these plans of action
in motion. Perhaps one of the best ways of answering
"What can the Jaycees do in the area of
child nutrition?" is to show what they've done in
the past.
The Philadelphia Jaycees "Food for Thought"
project currently provides between 30,000 and
35,000 children from 57 schools with an in-classroom
breakfast. By simply supplementing the
morning milk break with a nutritionally fortified
pastry three days a week and with cereal and
orange juice the other two, over one quarter of a
child's daily nutritional requirements are met.
The Philadelphia plan of action calls for the following
simple organizational framework:
CHAIRMAN
I
School Manpower Director
Recruiter Supervisor of
Supplies/ Accounting
Public
Relations
Coordinator
CHAIRMAN: Takes responsibility for the overall
smooth operation of the program.
SCHOOL RECRUITER: Targets schools needing
school breakfast most and, with the assistance
of the school district's Food Service Division,
DIRECTOR OF SUPPLIES/ ACCOUNTING: Keeps
an inventory of the food and materials used, as
well as complete financial records.
PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR: In this area,
essential for gaining community support, an
"investment in the future" approach has been
most successful.
The small fee charged to those students able to
pay, the Federal reimbursements, and the volunteer
help have combined to make "Food for
Thought" of no cost to participating schools. The
Jaycees' expense is $5,000 yearly-$3,000 for
part-time clerical help and approximately $2,000
for an annual appreciation banquet held for the
school volunteers.
According to Philadelphia Jaycees President Tom
Rittenhouse, "We've been amazed at the farreaching
impact of 'Food for Thought.' One school
reports that upon introduction of the breakfast
program tardiness was reduced by 50% and absenteeism
by 75%.
"We are currently planning to expand our program
to include up to 75,000 students from 105 schools."
The extent of Jaycees local involvement depends
on the individual chapter. However, as in Philadelphia,
when involved, Jaycees can potentially
provide:
1. Support and assistance in obtaining initial
approval of the feeding program
2. Volunteer manpower
3. Operational manpower
4. Financial aid
The U.S. Jaycees Center for Improved Child Nutrition
will coordinate the resources that the
Jaycees bring into battle to feed our Nation's
children. The center will serve as a clearing house
for the most up-to-date information available. It
will be our primary function to answer any questions
you may have. Through our many contacts
with people in the food industry, government and,
of course, the Jaycees organization, we will be
able to put you in touch with people who are
experts in the area of uncertainty.
