Grab n' Go Breakfast
Grab n' Go Breakfast can be served before school, during the mid-morning,
or even on the bus.
Grab n' Go Breakfast typically consists of bagged meals
or meal items that are laid out on carts. These carts are located in high-traffic areas
like school entrances. Students pick up a meal as they walk by the cart and eat on the way to class,
in designated dining areas, or during the first few minutes of class. Grab n' Go is common in
secondary schools but can work at all grade levels.
Benefits of Grab n' Go Breakfast
This model is particularly well-suited to campuses with relatively small cafeterias that don't have the capacity to serve all students in a timely manner. Grab n' Go Breakfast can be successful regardless of a school's percentage of students who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. At the same time, the model can help eliminate the stigma associated with going to the cafeteria to receive a free or reduced-price breakfast. Grab n' Go helps serve all students who are short on time before school or between classes.
A Successful Breakfast Hybrid
St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS) has a creative twist on Grab n' Go Breakfast and Classroom Breakfast. They call it "Breakfast
to Go." In 50 of the district's elementary and secondary schools, students are invited to select a breakfast in the cafeteria, bag it, and take
it back to their classrooms. Students eat while their teachers collect homework, begin
the day's lessons, or initiate other
morning activities.
Grab n' Go Resources
- St Paul Public Schools made this video to help promote the program and explain how it works. Thanks to SPPS Nutrition Services Director Jean Ronnei for sharing this video with BreakfastFirst!
- Visit the St Paul Public Schools Nutrition Services website for more information on Breakfast-to-Go, including helpful hints for successful implementation.
- Visit the A Toast to Breakfast page to learn how other schools are putting students and breakfast first with Grab n' Go!
- See the BreakfastFirst webinar and related materials about Breakfast at a Better Time and Place .