Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day, and Andalusia City Schools will offer its universal breakfast program to more students beginning today.

Andalusia Junior High School students will have the opportunity to have breakfast in the classroom, ACS Child Nutrition Director Stephanie Dillard said.

“Breakfast in the classroom will be available at no charge to all students at the start of each weekday morning,” she said.

Students will be served breakfast in the classroom each morning between 7:35 a.m. and 8 a.m.

“These meals are nutritionally-balanced and meet USDA nutritional requirements and will give your child the nutrients he/she needs to be productive in school.”

Among the menu items are pancakes, sausage biscuits, apple muffins, cinnamon rolls, pop tarts, chicken biscuits, breakfast burritos, fruit and milk.

The system launched the program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in April at Andalusia Elementary School.

“Breakfast in the classroom is a great way to start the day,” she said. “Studies have shown that children who eat a nutritious breakfast have better behavior, better attendance and improved test scores.”

Dillard said this is an important way to make sure that all of the students start the school day alert, well fed and ready to learn.

“We look forward to having each and every students start the day with breakfast in the classroom,” she said.