Dear County Superintendents, District Superintendents, Chief Business Officials, and Food Service Directors:

National Nutrition Month – March 2026
National School Breakfast Week – March 2–6, 2026

On behalf of the California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD), I encourage you to celebrate and elevate the value of your School Breakfast Program and the healthy nutritious meals you offer your students during National Nutrition Month® (NNM) and National School Breakfast Week (NSBW). With more than 279 million nutritious school meals and snacks already served during the 2025–26 school year, School Nutrition Programs (SNP) have a powerful impact on the health and success of California’s students. Further, these programs help achieve the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond’s priorities to advance educational equity, move the needle on student achievement, and promote whole-child success. Through your commitment to quality, nutritious meals as a part of California’s Universal Meals Program, all students have equitable access to meals that support attendance, improved learning outcomes, and healthy development.

National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month; this year’s theme is Discover the Power of Nutrition. SNPs are helping all students to discover the power of nutrition. This is the time to promote the variety of wholesome foods you serve and how these meals help students learn where ingredients come from, experience more locally and culturally inspired foods, and develop healthy habits that support their well-being. NNM also provides an opportunity to highlight the release of The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ latest recommendations to 1) eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and 2) limit added sugars, sodium, saturated fat, and highly processed foods. These recommendations align with our state’s proactive approach to student health and legislation that limits certain food dyes, additives, and, in the coming years, ultra processed foods.

National School Breakfast Week

March 2–6, 2026, is National School Breakfast Week, which highlights the important role school breakfast plays in helping students start the day ready to learn. The 2026 NSBW theme, Quest for School Breakfast, encourages schools to engage students in fun, educational activities during mealtimes. Below are a few ideas to help you celebrate your commitment to quality school meals during NNM and NSBW:

• Decorate the cafeteria for NNM and NSBW. (Cafeteria funds may be used for decorations, but not for promotional items; refer to the CDE Allowable Costs web page.)
  
  
• Create a March Gratitude Board to spotlight food service professionals and the important role they play in supporting student health and success.
  
  
• Share the Discover the Power of Nutrition theme with teachers and staff, encouraging them to integrate nutrition concepts into lessons and activities.
  
  
• Host a Quest for School Breakfast activity during NSBW, such as daily trivia, clues, or challenges that highlight the benefits of a nutritious breakfast.
  
  
• Visit your students during mealtimes and engage them in conversations about how school meals support their success and wellness.
  
  
• Invite community members, school board members, local officials, and legislators to visit your school to partake in a wonderful school meal.

Resources

• For NNM celebration ideas, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics NNM web page . For more information about NSBW, visit the School Nutrition Association web page .
  
  
• To learn more about cultural foods in schools, join the CDE’s Honoring Cultural Food Preferences in School Nutrition webinar on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 2 p.m. .

Contacts

For NNM questions, contact Desiree Rojo, Nutrition Education Assistant, at drojo@cde.ca.gov. For cafeteria fund questions, email SNPCafeFundQuestions@cde.ca.gov.

Thank you for your continued commitment to supporting the health and well-being of California’s children through high-quality school meals.

Sincerely,

Kim Frinzell, R.D., Director
Nutrition Services Division
California Department of Education