‘Brain food’ been served 14m times
Weetbix and milk has long been regarded as the breakfast of champions – fuelling the All Blacks, elite athletes and Kiwi adults and children for generations.
Since its inception in 2009, Kickstart Breakfast Clubs, an initiative driven by a partnership between Fonterra and Sanitarium, have served 14 million breakfasts to children in 890 schools across the country.
Morrinsville Primary School in the Waikato has been in the programme since the beginning and that was acknowledged when its club won the 2016 Kickstart Breakfast Club of the Year title.
In 2013 the Government jumped on board with KickStart Breakfast.
Fuelled by milk and grains, the students experience the power of a nutritious breakfast to provide both strength and energy for maximum learning at school.
Breakfast clubs are about more than eating breakfast at school.
The engaging environment encourages students to develop social skills, take on extra responsibility and grow academically through the wider benefits of breakfast.
Morrinsville School Breakfast Club co-ordinator Carol Finucane said the mission of their club was to change the stigma attached to them.
‘‘People have this perception that breakfast clubs are only available at low decile schools, where kids are going to school hungry,’’ she said. ‘‘We want to create an environment where our kids can socialise, while also enjoying a nutritious breakfast.’’
As a working mum, mornings at her house were often chaotic.
‘‘I wish they had breakfast clubs back then, it would have saved so much crying over spilt milk,’’ she said.
Fonterra spokesman Justin Tipa had a simple message for students. ‘‘Feeding your brain helps you to learn better,’’ he said.
Morrinsville School principal Shay Noonan thanked the Kickstart Breakfast team for the $5000 the school received to go towards their club. Kickstart kid Hemi Green did not have to be prompted when asked how he felt about the award.
‘‘We have the best breakfast club in the whole entire galaxy!’’