I know you love food like I do. Why else would you check in to Tidings online if you weren’t interested in all things food and wine related? I’m also guessing that, like me, you enjoy at least a few great meals during a typical week. Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky as we are. Take school-aged kids, for instance. The Breakfast Clubs of Canada has released new stats indicating that 1-in-10 Canadian children go to school on an empty stomach every day. To that end, Breakfast Clubs of Canada is hitting the road on an eight-city cross-country tour to raise funds and awareness for school breakfast programs.

Called The Taste for Learning Tour, the Breakfast Clubs hope to raise $2.5 million dollars. They use the money to provide funding, equipment, food donations, management tools and support to school breakfast programs throughout Canada. They’re hoping that with part of the money raised from this year’s fundraiser, they can add 400 more programs in urban and First Nations communities.

Only 80% of Canadians believe breakfast matters. We’re constantly reminded that breakfast is the most important meal of the day; so, that number, even though it’s high, still surprises me. A recent Angus Reid survey found that 78% of us believe having a healthy breakfast strongly improves a child’s ability to learn at school. Think of yourself going to work hungry. Most of us try to get by with a grande cup of java. But, kids who are hungry have low energy levels, memory, problem-solving skills, creativity, concentration and behaviour issues.

Want to help? Look for The Taste for Learning Tour in Fredericton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver. Pay them a visit and receive one of the 20,000 breakfast bags filled with coupons for food products from corporate partners such as Saputo, Danone, Kellogg’s and Minute Maid. You’ll also have the opportunity to donate. $1.00 buys one breakfast for a child. Text your support with the word “BREAKFAST” to 4-5-6-7-8 to donate $5 which equals a week’s worth of breakfast for a child.