Grab-and-go options bolster Allentown, Pa., elementary school breakfasts

Many elementary schools within the Allentown, Pa., district operate small cafeterias, which hampers their capacity to ensure every student gets breakfast before the first bell rings. What’s more, many students don’t arrive at school until after the breakfast period. But the district has found a way to expand the reach of its breakfast program.

Beginning in April, elementary schools rolled out a new approach to breakfast that includes second chance grab-and-go bags for late-arriving students as well as delivery of pre-bagged breakfast to classrooms. The traditional cafeteria will remain an option as well for the 8,000 students at the 16 schools. Schools can choose to offer any combination of these approaches depending on their circumstances.

Pamela Gallagher, who took over in December 2022 as interim director of child nutrition services for the schools, says the addition of the grab-and-go selections was a no-brainer. “I noticed right away that there was a tremendous growth opportunity because participation was very low,” she recalls. Staffing and limited capacity were one factor, but a large number of tardy students posed even more of a dilemma. Parents often drop their kids off after the breakfast period, and many students arrive late on their own. In some schools, up to 50 students arrive late.

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The majority of schools have opted to serve breakfast through the traditional cafeteria line, as in the past, but the breakfast period has expanded by 15 minutes. “It made a huge difference for families, students and us to be able to provide that extra 15 minutes,” Gallagher says. The next most popular model has been grab-and-go breakfast, distributed near the front door by foodservice staff.

Washington Elementary School students receive breakfast in the classroom delivery on carts.

By serving students where they are, the schools have seen a big jump in participation. With the new breakfast distribution system in place, schools have seen 50 percent more kids opting to eat breakfast, Gallagher says. 

The grab-and-go meals, which are packaged in plastic or paper bags, include a different combination every day. One day the bags might contain yogurt, apple slices, graham crackers and milk, while on another day a granola bar could be teamed with milk and juice. “We try to get a protein in there—either single-serve peanut butter, yogurt or a cheese stick—along with fruit and a whole grain,” Gallagher says.

Students are most enthusiastic about yogurt, mozzarella sticks and finger foods like granola bars. “If we put donuts out every day we’d probably have more participation, but I’m not doing that,” Gallagher notes with a laugh. “I don’t think it’s good for kids to be carbed up.”

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Dodd Elementary School cafeteria staff prep food.

The schools have let families know about the new options through social media and a districtwide messaging system.

Allentown also plans to introduce the expanded breakfast options at middle schools and high schools at the onset of the next school year. “We’ll start with the second chance breakfast because I think that will have the greatest impact for secondary students,” she says. Late arrivals are also a problem among older students, who tend to head straight for class when they’re running behind. “We already have a late problem; we don’t want a late problem and a hunger problem,” Gallagher says.

Gallagher, who has overseen implementation of similar programs in other school districts, says this was one of the easiest to accomplish, mainly because families and students were ready to embrace it. One of the only changes caused by the transition was the need for more refrigeration, especially for milk. The milk vendor now delivers more frequently to break up the need to store it onsite.

“If we did 16 schools with no problem, we’re hoping secondary schools will be a piece of cake,” she adds.