Part of a Balanced Diet

Students in the Pittsburg, USD 250, school district have been touring the world, one breakfast at a time.

Beginning March 5, students who eat breakfast at one of the Pittsburg schools have enjoyed a variety of new and exciting breakfasts, representing different regions of the world.

On Monday, students enjoyed a breakfast frittata from Italy, on Tuesday they visited Beijing with a breakfast of Congee and Wednesday, the students took a break from their travels to enjoy a taste of America with a helping of biscuits and gravy.

The world tour is part of the annual National School Breakfast Week. This year's theme is "A World of School Breakfast."

For many, the biscuits and gravy were a relief from some of the new and different foods they have experienced earlier in the week. Kelly Horn, director of food service for USD 250, said that tasting foods from different cultures helps students get a taste of different parts of the world.

Although, if gauged by the popularity of the breakfasts, most students would prefer to simply stay home.

"Today's breakfast has definitely been the most popular breakfast this week and it's probably because they are familiar with biscuits and gravy," Angela Wetzell, Lakeside Elementary School kitchen aid said. "They've tried the other breakfasts but they did not enjoy them as much as today's."

Elijah Braun, a first graders at Lakeside Elementary, said he has enjoyed trying the different foods but still likes the cinnamon tasters, a regular breakfast item, the best.

"I really like the choices," Elizabeth Katzer, a fourth grader at Lakeside Elementary, said. "But it stinks because we have to eat our breakfast so fast."

School breakfast, like school lunches have received a makeover during the past years. Pittsburg schools now offer students more main course, fruit and beverage choices and those students that qualify for free and reduced lunches can also receive free or reduced breakfasts.

Lakeside Elementary principal Buddy Bualle said that the school continually encourages students to eat a well balanced breakfast, especially during the past few weeks, because students have been taking state assessments.

Many students take advantage of school breakfasts because they are already at school and waiting for class to start.

And as the world breakfast tour continues today and Friday, many students may not love the new foods, but many do realize that enjoying something for breakfast is important.

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," Katzer said. "They taught us that it's always important to eat breakfast because it helps keep you full during the day."