Hungry kids streamed through the doors at Shiloh Hills Elementary School on Friday morning. In addition to a healthy breakfast of pancakes and scrambled eggs, another treat awaited – the students were greeted by athletes from Gonzaga University.

Friday was the final day of National Breakfast Week and athletes from GU’s rowing, soccer, volleyball, tennis and track and field teams were there as breakfast ambassadors.

“I’ve always been a breakfast eater,” GU senior Haley Nordin said. “My parents made us breakfast.”

Gonzaga soccer player Chris Lowrimore’s eyes shone when he talked about the first meal of the day. “I love eggs scrambled with peppers, onion and spinach.”

Mary Clare Kelley, nutrition coordinator for Mead Schools, said the district celebrates National Breakfast Week every year to draw attention to the value of eating a healthy breakfast. This year they stretched the weeklong event into two weeks.

“Breakfast is so important because it provides students’ brains with fuel so they can pay attention in class,” she said. “There are fewer trips to the office when tummies aren’t hungry and less behavior issues when breakfast is eaten. Our meals are well-balanced and contain protein, grains, fruit and milk.”

Districtwide, about 14 percent of Mead students eat breakfast at school – an average of 1,250 breakfasts each day. At Shiloh Hills, they serve 35 percent to 40 percent of the students, about 200 kids daily.

Six-year-old Reilee Nash is one of them. “I eat breakfast every day,” he said.

When asked what his favorite breakfast food is, he replied, “Everything!” Quickly adding, “Everything except cucumbers with barbecue sauce. My brother likes that. I don’t.”

Across the table Jackson Seipp, 6, professed to eating breakfast every day, too. Friday he bypassed the pancakes and tucked into a bowl of Lucky Charms with chocolate milk.

Third-grader Guiliana Batt confessed that she sometimes skips the most important meal of the day. And while she enjoyed her scrambled eggs and pancakes, she said her favorite breakfast is chocolate chip muffins.

Colton Jones, 6, agreed. He dipped his pancake into a container of maple syrup and said, “Muffins is actually my favorite.”

The Gonzaga athletes sat with the elementary students and chatted with them about how important it is to fuel your body if you want to excel at sports and have enough energy to enjoy PE and recess.

While the students chowed down, Kelley passed out prizes – stickers, pencils and rulers. Soon, dozens of students sported milk mustache stickers as did their college counterparts.

As she surveyed the bustling cafeteria, Kelley said, “Academically and athletically, breakfast is just good for you.”