As part of a system tested in around sixty schools, more than 48,600 balanced breakfasts have been distributed to 10,000 little Marseillaises since the start of the school year.
Funded by the Caisse des écoles de la Ville de Marseille, this system for distributing breakfasts and awareness workshops on good nutrition helps fight poverty and promotes equality chances, by preventing children from starting the day on an empty stomach. An essential meal for the well-being of students, breakfast allows them to recharge their batteries, stay focused in class and helps them, from an early age, to adopt good eating habits.
Experimentation at the Maurice Korsec school
Since last March, the Noailles-Belsunce neighborhood management is leading a project to distribute free, balanced breakfasts to schoolchildren in Belsunce, as well as their brothers and sisters and their parents. This project was tested from March 11 to July 5, 2024 at the Maurice Korsec school. Breakfasts, balancedincluded a dairy product, fresh fruit, a cereal product, water, organic products, suppliers who respect a short supply chain and varied menus.
Some figures
The impact on the experiment was evaluated, leading to the following results:
- 77% of those registered say they no longer feel hungry during the morning.
- 41% of children did not regularly eat breakfast in the morning.
- 11 out of 13 parents find that this system improves their daily lives, making it easier to drop off their children at 8 a.m.
- Free breakfasts reduce food costs for families, as stated by more than two-thirds of families surveyed.
- 88% of children say that breakfast motivates them to go to school.
- 77% of children surveyed believe that they follow lessons better after eating.
Some testimonials from teachers
This device:
- increases well-being, concentration and learning abilities : Vanessa : « It’s a very nice moment. The kids are no longer hungry in the morning. And they fall asleep less in class. » Marianne : « The effect of breakfast is mainly on investment in work and energy. Before, they got tired more quickly. They were trying to hang on. There was a radical change from the early days of breakfasts. There, they arrive in class in good shape, no more last minute awakenings. Others were sleeping. We had the first yawns around 9:30 a.m., with the question: “When is recess?” For the students who come to the breakfasts, things have changed. The children are awake until 11am. »
- reduces food insecurity : Anne : « In my class, many students live in hotels or are in precarious situations. This initiative responds to a crucial need for them, because without it, they would not eat. When asked to bring breakfast or a snack, they often arrived with chips or cakes, or nothing at all. So yes, this help is really beneficial and necessary for them. »
- promotes punctuality : Lina : « I observed significant progress in a student who had difficulty arriving on time. Since the introduction of breakfast at school, she now always arrives on time, which is a big step for me. »
- promotes positive interactions and conviviality between children in this moment open to parents and siblings: Lina: “ The children discuss their experience in class and are proud to take part in the breakfasts. They like to talk about what they ate, which encourages discussion and conviviality. »
A system extended to around sixty schools
Started in March 2024 four days a week, in collaboration with the Belsunce-Noailles neighborhood management for the distribution of breakfasts and Noailles Broth for awareness workshops, aimed at children of theMaurice Korsec school (1st district), this system was extended this fall to around sixty schools with one distribution and one workshop per week. 13 in solidarity joined the program and has been speaking twice a week at the Oddo school (15th arrondissement) since November.
On December 11, 2024, the results were positive in terms of access to food, concentration, energy, social bonds and overall well-being of families, teachers and partners.
A policy in favor of better nutrition
Every day, the City of Marseille serves 55,000 meals in the 320 school restaurants, which is equivalent to 7.5 million meals consumed each year.
The City is committed on a daily basis to guarantee tasty, quality dishes, and is working today to build the model of tomorrow’s canteens: a sustainable, local, self-sufficient and organic model, for the health of all little Marseillaises and of all the little Marseillais.
Learn more about canteens
