Why More Schools Are Switching to USDA-Organic Breakfast Programs
Each morning, nearly 15 million students across the U.S. start their day with school breakfast. For many, that meal is more than just a routine — it’s a critical source of nutrition. With 1 in 7 children experiencing food insecurity, the quality of school menu items matters more than ever.
But not all breakfast foods are created equal. That’s something Pre-K teacher Kelly Cary noticed firsthand seven years ago in Richmond, CA. After breakfast, her students were crashing hard — energy spikes, hyperactivity, behavioral challenges. Curious and concerned, she dug into the ingredients in the cereals being served.
What she found was alarming: even though the cereals technically met USDA school guidelines, they were full of ultra-processed ingredients like maltodextrin — a sugar substitute that causes blood sugar spikes and crashes.
Determined to be a voice for her students, Kelly Carey and West Contra Costa USD nutrition director, Barbara Jellison, sought out school-food advocate, Conscious Kitchen. Together, they pitched a new challenge for Nature’s Path: create the first USDA school compliant organic breakfast cereal – one that meets federal guidelines while delivering real ingredients, with a taste students love.
Why Organic?
Foods that are certified USDA organic are grown and processed without the use of any synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and GMOs. That means no hidden toxins like chlormequat, a growth-regulating pesticide recently found in 80% of people tested in a CBS study, linked to reproductive issues and traced back to conventional oat products.
Yes, organic products can cost a little more but they also remove those hidden health risks. And now, with states like California and Colorado offering funding to support organic and local food in schools, the switch is more accessible than ever.
Our Answer: Organic Cereal That Meets School Standards Working with Conscious
Kitchen and WCCUSD, we reformulated our fan-favorite Choco Chimps to meet school nutrition guidelines: 100% whole grain, less sugar, same chocolatey crunch kids love.
Then, we took it a step further — creating a brand new cinnamon flavored cereal, Monarch Magic, to teach kids about monarch butterflies and how choosing organic helps protect endangered species.
The Impact So Far
Since launching August 2024, Nature’s Path organic cereals are now being served in over 260 California schools, with more than 1.5 million bowls served estimated in our first year!
According to Micha James at Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD):
“We began offering Nature's Path cereals this year, and they remain the preferred breakfast choice at every elementary school! Students love the cinnamon and chocolate flavors — and that they stay crunchy in milk. Parents love that they’re organic. It’s a win-win.”
Ready to Bring USDA-Organic Breakfast to Your School?
With the help of our amazing advocates and pioneer schools, we are estimated to expand to another 150+ schools in the next year. Together, we can make a change in the lives of students, one organic breakfast at a time!
Learn more about the Breakfast School Program here or email Ggrijalva@naturespath.com!
Join Our Wholesale ProgramSources:
https://schoolnutrition.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/School-Breakfast-Matters.pdf https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/6-things-you-need-know-school-food-foodcorps/ https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/school-nutrition-standards-updates/whole-grains https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/school-nutrition-standards-updates/added-sugars https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/is-maltodextrin-bad-for-me https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr25/yr25rel14.asp https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cheerios-quaker-oats-infertility-chemicals-in-cereal-ewg/
