Nutrition is a critical component of health amongst all school-aged children. Ironically, in a time when financial prosperity is at its peak in the United States and Canada, a recent survey conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture stated that the prevalence of hunger and food insufficiency among children in the United States is at an astonishing 18% (Kleinman, Hall, Green, Ramirez-Korzec, Patton, Pagano & Murphy, 2002).

Children are frequently coming to school hungry because more and more children and their families live in poverty. “Children may be hungry for a variety of reasons, not necessarily only due to economic hardship. Breakfast skipping and inappropriate meal practices are relatively prevalent in Canada, and not limited to those living in poverty” (New Brunswick Education, 2000, ¶ 2). Implementing breakfast programs is one initiative designed to improve the academic performance of schoolchildren.

Breakfast is essential to the health of children and has drastic effects on dietary adequacy. Besides assuring daily dietary adequacy, positive effects on attention, alertness and other skills pertinent for academic success have been noted (Worobey & Worobey, 1999).