Mornings can be hard but don’t worry—I might have the answer. When it comes to my family, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Between the hustle and bustle of getting out the door in the morning, over-sleeping, picking out an outfit, forgetting homework, or financial constraints, it can be hard for a family to help their child start their day the right way. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school health and wellness program that provides schools the tools to implement school breakfast programming, offers funding to schools to help them implement their breakfast programs and provides the community and surrounding schools with the resources that will help students lead healthier lives.
Fuel Up to Play 60, created by National Dairy Council and the NFL (National Football League) in collaboration with the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) wants to make sure that children are getting what they need for success. The program helps bring healthy habits to school-aged children in our community and provides schools with access to grants that will allow new opportunities for their students, educators, and the community.
Fuel Up to Play 60 requires all schools to participate in the National School Lunch Program. Parents, educators and students can help bring Fuel Up to Play 60 into their school to make a difference in students’ lives.
They are many partners that are working together to fund this program that helps to teach children healthy habits at an early age. These funds allow schools to purchase the necessary tools and equipment to help them offer fun, creative and tasty breakfasts for the students. The program recently announced $35 million in grants aimed at helping schools update or upgrade their existing kitchen equipment together with the USDA, GENYOUth Foundation and the NFL.
Part of the Fuel Up to Play 60 health and wellness program are the online resources such as the Playbook. Here you can find information on how to spread the word to the community about staying active and maintaining good eating habits. There are also tips, tricks and ideas to help keep kids healthier, happier and moving throughout their day such as Breakfast – Anytime, Anywhere and A Hero’s Breakfast! Spreading the wealth of information about Fuel Up to Play 60 within the school community is important, but it is also important to reach beyond the classroom walls and teach others about how they can live a better life.
For more details on Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab and Go meals, the Playbook and everything else Fuel Up to Play 60 has to offer, visit www.FuelUpToPlay60.com. This site will give you all of the information that you need to help bring this program into your child's school as well as give you great resources to support you and your family on this journey.
Thanks to Fuel Up to Play 60, parents and educators can rest assured that more children are starting their days off right. Children are not only eating a well-balanced breakfast at school, but also participating in physical activities to promote an all-around healthy lifestyle.
Check out some of our own coverage of the events Fuel Up to Play 60 has been organizing in communities nationwide:
- Boise, Idaho
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Englewood, Colorado
- Central Phoenix, Arizona
- Lawrenceville, Georgia
- Yakima, Washington
- Downtown Kansas City, Missouri
- Huron Valley, Michigan
- Cedar Park, Texas
- SW Boston, Massachusetts
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- Northeast Bergen, New Jersey
- Apopka, Florida
- Fremont, California
- Androscoggin County, Maine
- Salem, Oregon
- Cleveland East, Ohio
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- SW Houston, Texas
- Dover, Delaware
