'Breaking Barriers, Breaking Bread': Pilot study to evaluate acceptability of a school breakfast program utilising...

Area of Science:

• Public Health Nutrition
• School Health Programs
• Sustainable Food Systems

Background:

• One in seven Australian schoolchildren skip breakfast, impacting nutritional intake and academic performance.
• School breakfast programs offer nutritional, cognitive, and behavioral benefits but face challenges with food costs and waste.
• A novel approach utilizing donated food was explored to address these challenges in primary schools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the acceptability and perceived benefits of a free, donated-food-based primary school breakfast program.
• To evaluate the program's impact on food waste, student hunger, school attendance, and overall well-being.
• To explore the program's potential as a sustainable model for school-based nutritional interventions.

Main Methods:

• Process evaluation: Quantified donated food, meals provided, and nutritional content.
• Impact evaluation: Thematic analysis of focus groups with students, parents, and teachers.
• Student assessment: Utilized breakfast diaries and hunger rating scales to track eating habits and hunger levels.

Main Results:

• The program diverted 14.4 tons of food from landfill, producing 44,000 meals.
• One-fifth of students reported skipping breakfast weekly; one-third arrived at school hungry.
• Reported benefits included increased school attendance, improved alertness and behavior, and support for food-insecure families.

Conclusions:

• The donated-food breakfast program demonstrated wide acceptance among students, parents, and teachers.
• The program provided benefits extending beyond nutrition, fostering an equitable school environment.
• This model integrates school breakfast programs with sustainable food practices, offering a viable intervention strategy.