RAINIER BEACHÂ - Cornerback Marcus Trufant has made an immediate impact for the Seahawks since he was drafted in 2003. His secret to success in the National Football League? Eating a well-balanced breakfast each and every morning.
Trufant visited Emerson Elementary School on Tuesday, March 6, and spoke to the students about the importance of starting each day with a healthy breakfast. With the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) testing beginning later this month, schools across the state are stressing breakfast after a 1998 Harvard University study linked test-taking performance to the morning meal.
"If I don't eat breakfast every morning," Trufant said as he spoke to the group of more than 250 elementary school children, "I'm just not at my best, and I can't let the Seahawks down."
Trufant - who listed Cheerios, fresh fruit, milk and even grits amongst his favorite breakfast foods - spoke to the student body for nearly 45 minutes. He also spoke to the importance of getting good grades, listening to their teachers and exercising regularly as ways of achieving success.
"If you eat breakfast every day and get good grades," said Trufant, 26, "you will have enough energy to do whatever you want in life."
The event - sponsored by the Washington State Dairy Council and the Seattle Schools Start Strong Program - was part of last week's National School Breakfast Week. The NSBW launched in 1989 by the School Nutrition Association to encourage healthy breakfast eating habits.
A SMART START
Emerson is among 12 elementary schools in the Seattle School District that offer free breakfast to all students. Other schools include Dunlap, Van Asselt and Whitworth Elementary schools. According to Wendy Weyer, R.D., who serves as the dietitian supervisor for the Seattle School District, almost 50 percent of Emerson's students participate in the school's free breakfast program.
"In order for a school to qualify for an all free breakfast program, more than 80 percent of the students must qualify for free or reduced meals," said Weyer.
Emerson Elementary - who has one of the school district's highest rates of free breakfast participants - is in their second year of offering free breakfast to all students.
"With most of the core subjects taught in the morning hours, it's crucial for students to start each day with the right fuel," Weyer asserted.
University of Washington research dietitian Susan Adams, who specializes in counseling student athletes and coaches, says students who eat breakfast concentrate better and score much higher on tests.
"When students skip breakfast, blood sugar levels drop, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability and lethargy results," said Adams. "School breakfast meets 25 percent of the recommended daily allowances of protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin A and C for good health."
As for the menu, Weyer said the USDA establishes the guidelines for what must be offered on a daily basis. One serving of fruit, vegetables or 100 percent fruit juice and milk must be offered as well as two meal components of bread, meat or a meat substitute. The morning Trufant visited, the egg and cheese breakfast burrito was quite popular among students who patiently awaited the day's special guest.
A SEAHAWK LANDS
Trufant arrived a bit late that morning - just after 10 a.m. - but the students were more than excited to welcome the Seahawks cornerback, a Tacoma native. Trufant handed out cartons of milk to a handful of students then held a half-hour long question-and-answer session in the school's gymnasium. Student's were quick to ask him about 2006's Superbowl appearance, "They cheated!" screamed the students.
"Something like [Emerson's free breakfast program] would have been great to have when I was in school," said Trufant. "When you don't have the time to eat breakfast in the morning you get grouchy and tired real easy."
Trufant's visit was his second in two months to promote healthy nutrition. The first - a "Think Your Drink" campaign - was held in February at Mukilteo's Mariner High School to promote drinking milk over other beverage choices.
"Marcus is a great guy both personally and in the community," said Mark Leader who's marketing company, DeLaunay Communications, helped put on the event. "He believes in a healthy diet. [At Mariner High School] he said, 'My body is my job. I have to be healthy.'"
After leading the children in a mini-work out of sorts, Trufant hung around to meet the children and take pictures until all the children and teachers returned to class.
"The children were very, very excited to have Marcus at our school," said Principal, Marion Vinson. "We know a good breakfast gets the mind moving, and it was great to have him there to tell that to the children."
More information about healthy breakfast habits is available at betterbreakfast.org" www.betterbreakfast.org or www.eatsmart.org.
Josh Sabrowsky may be reached via editor@sdistrictjournal.com.[[In-content Ad]]
