Grab-n-Go

In a 2015 report by the Food Research & Action Center students liked the grab-and-go model as it allowed them to spend more time socializing and principals noted that it was easy to implement.¹   Grab-and-go breakfast, like other alternative breakfast models, is also credited with increasing school breakfast participation.^{2, 3}  Research suggests the grab-and-go model is cost effective to implement, reporting startup costs of between $5-$15/student, taking schools between 16-48 school days to break even on investment.⁴

Schools implement grab-and-go breakfast programs in various ways to accommodate the unique needs of their students and available resources at the school site. Some sites utilize mobile carts stationed in high-traffic areas like hallways or entrances, allowing students to grab their breakfast items on the way to class quickly. Others integrate breakfast distribution into morning routines, such as delivering meals directly to classrooms or offering breakfast in the cafeteria with extended serving hours. At some schools, students are handed breakfast bags when they exit the school bus; in others, school policies allow students to take breakfast with them to the classroom. Regardless of the approach, these programs aim to ensure that all students have access to a nutritious breakfast to support their learning and well-being.

• Distribute food in high traffic areas like entrances, hallways, or near classrooms
• Establish school-wide policies that allow students to eat the first 10-15 minutes of first period
• Stock extra breakfast bags in the main or attendance office for students who arrive late