Promotion Ideas
Use the following promotion ideas to encourage students to make breakfast at school the “smart start” of each day.
Make the Cafeteria-Classroom Connection
Do your teachers know about Little D’s Nutrition Expedition and Arianna’s Nutrition Expedition? If not, introduce them to the programs.
Then support your teachers by teaming up with them to make the Five Food Groups come alive in your cafeteria. Reinforce classroom learning with cafeteria connection ideas based on the Nutrition Expedition program activities.Why Eat Breakfast?
Partner with classroom teachers to promote the benefits of breakfast.
- Ask students or classes to write jingles about the importance of eating breakfast. Choose several and have students recite their jingles over the public address system – a different one each week, throughout the school year.
- Encourage young poets to participate in a poetry fair. And what’s the topic for the poems? Why breakfast! Ask the principal to read the poems over the public address system or feature the poems on your monthly menus or in the school newsletter.
- Sponsor a district-wide advertising contest promoting the benefits of school breakfast. Select a panel of judges and recognize a variety of entries based on categories such as “Best of Show,” “Best Breakfast Message” or “Most Humorous.” Submit the winning ads to your local newspaper to publicize your program and the importance of starting the school day with breakfast.
Breakfast Brain Busters
Each week include a trivia question about breakfast with breakfast. Students can ponder questions as they enjoy breakfast in the classroom or the cafeteria. Encourage students to research breakfast and submit trivia questions to their cafeteria manager. If you use a student’s question, provide a special prize (pencil, bookmark, stickers, key chain, etc.) as a “thank you.”Theme Breakfasts
Brainstorm with your staff creative menu ideas to spark interest in your breakfast program. Consider ethnic and seasonal foods as well as holidays and special events. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Hold a school election on Election Day. Provide a slate of breakfast menus and have students vote for their favorites. Feature a special “winners” menu throughout November.
- Celebrate Halloween with pumpkin bread and chocolate milk; the first day of winter with a hot breakfast; or Valentine’s Day with cherry-studded muffins.
- Wake up students’ patriot spirit with a red, white and blue breakfast. Serve blueberry muffins with apple slices and milk.
- Recognize food- or health-related events throughout the year.
- September is National Biscuit Month. Feature a different breakfast sandwich each week. National 5-A-Day Week also occurs in September. Start the school year by promoting a variety of fruits and vegetables.
- November is host to Home Made Bread Day. Celebrate by serving slices of a whole-grain, school-made bread.
- October is National Pizza Month.
- January is Oatmeal Month. Serve oatmeal raisin muffins with yogurt, juice and milk or old-fashioned oatmeal with raisins.
- February is Children’s Dental Health Month. Feature “tooth-friendly” string cheese.
- And there’s the ever popular Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2. Celebrate with “Green Eggs and Ham.”
And the Winner Is…
Add excitement to your Grab ‘n’ Go Breakfast. Each week add a coupon for a special prize to a few randomly selected breakfast bags. Vary the day and the prizes.
“Cool Facts” Trivia Contest
Ask school administrators, teachers and foodservice staff for a list of their favorite breakfast foods. Let students guess which list goes with which person.