A Chinese lion dance performed by juniors Preston and Jordan Leung ushers in the new Grab 'N' Go breakfast program on Jan. 25. Photos by Chris Lee
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Students arriving at school with an empty stomach can now check out the new breakfast cart by the main entrance offering breakfast to-go.

The Grab ‘N’ Go cart can be found every morning from 8:10 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in front of the school library. The breakfast, packaged in bags, is available to anyone — students as well as teachers and other staff. The meals are free to students who qualify for the free/reduced lunch program, while all other students can purchase their meals for $1.50. Students can also purchase breakfast from carts using their pre-paid cafeteria meal cards.

According to cafeteria manager Elaine Choi, so far the results of this program are mixed. “On Feb. 2, there were eleven students who bought breakfasts, and on Feb. 3, there were eight,” Choi said. However, the cafeteria is hoping to increase the effectiveness of the breakfast cart by introducing meals that students prefer.

The cafeteria has a challenge raising awareness of the cart. “The breakfast cart is at an inopportune location, and it’s not very well advertised either,” senior Eli Pleaner said.

According to the San Francisco Unified School District’s website, the menu includes cereal, a bagel and cream cheese, yogurt, pancakes or French toast. Each meal also includes milk, and either fresh fruit or 100 percent fruit juice. The breakfast carts act as mobile serving areas for breakfast, which are more convenient for students who find it a hassle to go all the way to the cafeteria.

The new breakfast program, funded by the California Department of Education, was initiated by the SFUSD’s Student Nutrition Services department and has been implemented at nine high schools and ten middle schools in the district. According to Student Nutrition Services, the program will allow more students to eat breakfast, especially students who arrive to school without enough time to eat in the cafeteria. “The whole point is to let everyone have breakfast, even if they're running to school a little late,” Student Nutrition Services sponsor and school nurse Maryann Rainey said.

As for the purpose of the program, “kids that have breakfast have better academic performance – you’re more awake, you’re better nourished,” Rainey said. “So, with the idea of having kids being as successful as possible, we want them to be fed.”

In celebration of Lunar New Year and to introduce the new breakfast carts, a traditional Chinese lion dance was performed by martial arts club members juniors Jordan and Preston Leung to the carts on Jan. 25.