During National School Breakfast Week, Garland ISD welcomed Regional Deputy Director Michael Boes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to Ethridge Elementary to see the district’s Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) program and the work of its Student Nutrition Services (SNS) team. 

Jennifer Miller, Director of Student Nutrition Services, invited Boes to visit a Garland ISD campus during National School Breakfast Week to see the launch of new breakfast menu items introduced through the district’s BIC program.

The visit offered a firsthand look at how Garland ISD helps students start their mornings with a nutritious meal. Through the BIC program, students enjoy breakfast with their classmates at the beginning of the school day, helping ensure more students start the morning nourished and ready to focus on learning.

While on campus, Boes toured the school kitchen to see how meals are prepared and delivered each day. Garland ISD’s SNS team works early each morning to prepare balanced meals that meet federal nutrition standards while focusing on quality ingredients and student preferences.

The kitchen tour provided an inside look at the coordination and care behind the scenes. From preparation to service, cafeteria staff and SNS professionals work together to make sure students have access to fresh, nutritious meals every school day.

“School breakfast plays a critical role in helping students start their school day nourished and ready to succeed,” said Miller.

Breakfast plays an important role in supporting student wellness and academic success. Programs like BIC help remove barriers that can prevent students from eating before school, increasing participation and making it easier for more students to start the day with the nutrition they need.

Following the classroom visits and kitchen tour, district leaders, school nutrition professionals, teachers, parents, and federal representatives participated in a roundtable discussion. They shared insights on meal preparation, healthy options, and innovative approaches, discussed lessons from past policy reforms, and explored ways to overcome current challenges, highlighting Garland ISD’s role as a thought leader in student nutrition and its commitment to expanding access to nutritious meals for students.

“I really think school meals can be a foundation for our children,” said Boes. “If we help them develop healthy eating habits through what’s modeled for breakfast and lunch five days a week, it will support them not just in school, but in life, especially when combined with education and engagement with families.”

The visit was part of a broader effort by the HHS to build relationships with local partners and learn from school districts that are committed to providing high-quality school meals and continuously strengthening their programs.

As part of that effort, the district recently introduced new, freshly prepared breakfast menu items through its Moving Menus Forward initiative, which focuses on increased scratch preparation and student-preferred recipes. Early participation data show strong student interest and increased breakfast participation across participating campuses.

GISD continues to earn national recognition for its commitment to high-quality school meals. SNS recently received three Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards from the USDA and Action for Healthy Kids, including recognition for Innovation in the Preparation of School Meals.

These efforts reflect Garland ISD’s ongoing commitment to ensuring every student has access to nutritious meals that help them start the day ready to succeed.