Whether you are a student or a teacher, buying breakfast can be a bit on the costly side. This is the case, especially for students who don’t have a job or a source of income. So how can students afford to buy breakfast every morning? Jordanae Atkinson, a senior, stated, “I do occasionally ask my parents for money because they don’t always remember to give it to me, but I also get a weekly allowance of $20, which I use to buy snacks and breakfast for school.”
I have noticed that many of my peers skip breakfast because of their hectic mornings or the high breakfast prices. Due to increased shipping costs, shortages, packaging, and other factors, food prices have risen throughout the years as a result of inflation. Another senior, Sadie Ann Lorjuste, one of the many students affected by inflation, stated “ I feel broke and discouraged. It limits my options on what I can have for breakfast and if I can even have breakfast at all, therefore affecting my whole day, and my performance throughout the day. On average I have bacon egg and cheese ONCE a month”.
Eating breakfast in the morning is crucial as it improves your energy level and your concentration. Students who can’t afford expensive breakfast every day can choose to stop by the cafeteria every morning on school days between 7:30 and 8 am as they provide breakfast that students can grab and eat so they don’t go hungry throughout the day.
Students who don’t have the first period can also stay in the cafeteria longer and enjoy their breakfast. A bowl of oatmeal with some fruits on top is also a healthy at-home breakfast alternative that kids can have as they are easy to make, rich in fiber, and will keep you full for a longer period. You can also choose to get a bagel with cream cheese filled with carbohydrates, essential vitamins, and high in calories.
Students also stop by the delis near school or by their homes to buy themselves breakfast before arriving at their classes, which can result in their lateness and angry teachers. Legacy Project teacher David Personette stated “ It’s upsetting and I want them to have their priorities straight, but you also have to understand that if they don’t eat they are not going to be as good students- you want them to learn better time management.
He added that ¨If you know you want to go get food you should leave your house 5 minutes earlier. If you can’t be on time, you need to refocus and figure out how to do so.” Students who stop by the deli to get breakfast have a different perspective. Senior Patricia Hardy stated ¨Once I realize that I will be a bit late to school, that’s when I think- well, since I’m late I might as well go and get breakfast- so it’s more of an afterthought.”
While eating breakfast in the morning is encouraged for health reasons, you should also consider its impact on your grades and academic performance, especially when you arrive late to class because you stopped by the deli to buy breakfast.
