Questions & Answers from my visit to a Breakfast Clubs of Canada program

A few weeks before Christmas, before our home was hit with the flu, I had the chance to visit one of the Manitoba schools that runs the Breakfast Clubs of Canada program.

This September I wrote a post talking about the Breakfast Clubs of Canada program and how they provide breakfast for over 100,000 Canadian children. I love the idea of schools having a breakfast program, so when I was asked by Minute Maid, one of the corporate sponsors of Breakfast Clubs of Canada if I wanted to see the program in operation I couldn’t say anything but YES!

When I arrived to the school, I met Freddie Wood, the coordinator of Breakfast Clubs of Canada. I asked him a few questions that I was sure other parents would want to know the answers to as well.

How does the Breakfast Clubs of Canada develop its breakfast menus?

“The menus here in Manitoba are developed  along with the provincial child nutrition council of Manitoba and the Healthy Food Nutrition Guide of Canada”.

 

How many Breakfast Clubs are operating in Canada? In Manitoba?

“There are 1245 Breakfast Clubs in Canada, 37 of them are in Manitoba”.

 

How often does Breakfast Clubs of Canada serve Minute Maid to the children?

“Since we follow the Nutrition Guide, Minute Maid juice is served 2-3 times per week”.

I couldn’t stop smiling seeing how happy the youth were while they were lining up and eating their breakfasts. They all seemed appreciate the program and they were laughing and joking with the coordinator, Ira Bachynski, who was busy making pancakes with a student volunteer. Mr. Bachynski has 2 grade 10 volunteer students and remarked that volunteering really seemed to boost their self-esteem.

I asked one grade 10 student about her experience volunteering.

How long have you been volunteering?

“I have been volunteering for 1 year”.

 

Why did you become a volunteer?

“I became a volunteer because it is a good learning experience”.

 

How does volunteering with Breakfast Clubs of Canada make you feel?

“It’s good. It makes me feel good and I have learned a lot”.

 

I sat down an chatted with a grade 9 student and asked her a few questions.

How long have you been coming to the Breakfast Club?

“I have been coming to the program for 4 months now”.

 

How do you enjoy your breakfast? Any favorite items?

“There is not one breakfast that I don’t like. Pancakes, bagels and waffles are three of my favorites”.

 

How do you feel after breakfast?

“I feel good after I eat breakfast. It is great to have a good breakfast before tests and stuff”.

 

I am happy that I got to see a Breakfast Clubs of Canada program in operation. It is one of those feel good events that I’m happy I can blog about and share with all of you.

 

How important do you think breakfast is?