Research shows that students who start the day with breakfast do better in school and have better health outcomes. But for many New Jersey families, providing a healthy morning meal each day isn’t an option.
Childhood food insecurity in New Jersey has grown significantly, from 9% in 2020 to 13.5% in 2023, meaning 272,000 children across the state don’t have consistent access to enough food.
The latest ALICE report finds that 36% of NJ households don’t earn enough to cover basic needs. As costs continue to climb, even families who earn too much to qualify for free school meals struggle to afford breakfast at school or provide one at home.
