Dan Gorman, Foodservice Director, Whitehall District Schools, Whitehall, MI
It’s been almost three years since fifth-grade student Kammie Jarvis developed her idea for the “Oatmeal-licious” breakfast bar and ”sold” it to Foodservice Director Dan Gorman and the students at Ealy Elementary School in Whitehall, Michigan. Kammi’s breakfast bar, part of the “Fuel Up to Play 60” breakfast challenge, is a football-themed oatmeal bar whose goal is to increase breakfast participation.
Oatmeal-licious is offered to students every Friday. In the cafeteria line, students receive a full reimbursable breakfast that includes a bowl of oatmeal. Then, they can take their oatmeal to the Oatmeal-licious bar where the fun really begins! Students are encouraged by peers who serve new and nutritious oatmeal toppings. The toppings on the Oatmeal-licious bar are football-themed and include blueberries for the Detroit Lions; oranges, blueberries, and maple syrup for the Miami Dolphins; and strawberries and Nutella for the San Francisco 49ers.
According to Gorman, the key to Oatmeal-licious’s success was that it is student-created and student-led. Gorman says the students could not have done it without the initial help of Renee Tindall, who teaches both physical education and leadership.
Gorman admitted that, at first, he really didn’t think Oatmeal-licious was going to work. But the students proved him wrong. “The students got involved and stayed involved,” he said. “It’s a treat and an honor at Ealy to be chosen to be part of the Oatmeal-licious team.” He believes students must have a voice and a role in what they eat. This year, Gorman is looking for other creative ways to involve students in meal planning and production.
Since its opening, breakfast participation on Oatmeal-licious days has increased 78 percent. Oatmeal-licious operates in two schools: Ealy Elementary and Whitehall Middle Schools.
This story is part of a School Breakfast Success Story Compendium by Michigan Team Nutrition. To read more success stories, click here!
Contributors
Nicholas Drzal, RD, MPH, Michigan Department of Education
Chris Flood, MS; Nutrition Communications Consultant, Healthy Habits Today
Dan Gorman, Foodservice Director, Whitehall District Schools, Whitehall, MI