High School Breakfast: Creative Ideas from School Nutrition Leaders

Breakfast doesn't feel appealing to them.

●Serve freshly made waffles with DIY fruit toppings one morning each week. The aroma creates excitement and encourages students to arrive on time!
— District in California

●Rebrand cafeterias as "school nutrition restaurants" and introduce an Executive Chef to elevate the dining experience.
— District in Virginia

●Serve "hot chocolate milk" during winter breakfast service to create a cozy seasonal favorite.
— District in Indiana

●Remove foil wrappers from commercially prepared breakfast sandwiches. This simple change to the presentation helped students perceive the sandwiches as fresher and more appealing.
— District in West Virginia

●Invite high school students to volunteer during breakfast service to increase peer engagement.
— District in Canada

●Offer limited-time menu promotions, such as Smoothie Fridays and seasonal build-your-own breakfast bowls and protein muffins.
— Ideas shared by multiple districts

Breakfast happens too early.

●Rename Second Chance Breakfast as "Brunch" to better match students' routines and preferences. Most high school breakfast participation now occurs during this later service.
— District in California

●Move to breakfast after the bell (during first period or a morning passing period), when students are much more likely to eat.
— Shared by multiple districts

Students prioritize social time.

●Place breakfast coolers beside school buses, so students can grab breakfast as they exit.
— District in Minnesota

●Feature a student DJ during breakfast to create a fun, café-like atmosphere that encourages students to eat together.
— District shared at ANC

●Add Second Chance Breakfast to create another opportunity for students to eat. Our breakfast participation more than doubled.
— District shared at ANC

Students arrive late or have little time.

●Allow students to pre-order breakfast on school-issued iPads and pick up a labeled breakfast bag the next morning.
— District in West Virginia

●Install reimbursable breakfast vending machines so students can access breakfast later in the morning.
— District shared at ANC

School routines get in the way.

●Encourage teachers to eat with students to help normalize school breakfast.
— District in Maine

●Prep your scratch-made items the day before to help meet scratch-cooking requirements while saving time during breakfast service.
— District in New Mexico

●Have the principal greet students each morning and help serve breakfast. One school reported 80% breakfast participation since starting this!
— District shared at ANC