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The Houston Independent School District encourages students to start their day with a healthy breakfast. That’s why HISD’s Nutrition Services Department is observing National School Breakfast Week March 7–11, with the theme of “Blasting off with Breakfast.” The districtwide effort highlights the many benefits of HISD’s free breakfast program.

This year, Nutrition Services invited two local heroes to show students the importance of breakfast at school. On March 8, the Houston Texan’s mascot Toro pumped up students for a day of learning in the breakfast line at Montgomery ES, courtesy of Dairy MAX. And on March 10, NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke will be on a mission at Grissom ES to talk about the importance of healthy eating for space travel.

Studies show that breakfast is as critical to learning as any other tool in the classroom. According to Nutrition Services Dietitian Nan Cramer, HISD’s free breakfast program helps parents get their children off to school with peace of mind. “Parents can be assured we are providing a nutritious meal to fuel their child’s growing body and mind,” said Cramer.

HISD implemented the free breakfast program in 2010, serving nearly 119,000 breakfasts every morning throughout the district.