Two local high schools – McClatchy and Hiram Johnson – have agreed to an unusual competition next month. Rather than taking each other on in sports or spelling, they are going to the mat over breakfast.
The two schools are taking part in a statewide effort to encourage more young people to eat a healthy breakfast. For three weeks, starting Sept. 8, they will compete to see which school has more students eating a school breakfast before classes start.
The winning school will receive $2,000 from the California Milk Processor Board, which runs the well-known Got Milk? ad campaign and is sponsoring similar competitions elsewhere in the state. Student body representatives can choose how to spend the prize money at their school.
The contest's timing was serendipitous, said Sherida Diederich, a dietitian and nutrition services supervisor in the Sacramento City Unified School District. In general, she said, about a third of students don't eat breakfast, while others make unhealthy choices. Health experts have long said a nutritious breakfast is important for concentration and learning.
The district, Diederich said, is in the midst of trying to get more kids to eat a healthy hot or cold breakfast at school.
"The timing was perfect," she said of the contest.
This past week, student leaders at the two schools began mapping out their strategies for winning the $2,000 prize.
Angelani Mailangi, student body president at Johnson, said she hoped to use the money for a high quality homecoming, among other things.
"I'm pretty sure I can get my people in there for three weeks," she said of the breakfast challenge.
Sam Rose, student body president at McClatchy, said the competition will raise awareness about good nutrition. Each morning before school, he said, he sees many teens stopping at the doughnut shop or McDonald's near McClatchy. "A lot of kids eat breakfast," he said, "but it's not always healthy."
Call The Bee's Deb Kollars, (916) 321-1090.