Coffee, yogurt, fruits, cereal bars, bagels, and Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches are just some of the things that have been taken away as a result of the cafeteria no longer serving breakfast.

Employees who work more than 29 hours a week must now be offered insurance benefits, under the Affordable Care Act, and since the school district has not budgeted for this, cafeteria workers could no longer put in the hours to keep up with the breakfast program.

“I blame Obamacare. I already have benefits and the extra hours will only help,” cafeteria employee Melcina Chontofalsky said. “But once again, thanks to Obama, my work hours shortened as well as my pay.”

Eating breakfast is important for everyone, but is especially so for children and young adults. According to the American Dietetic Association, children who eat breakfast perform better in the classroom, with better concentration, problem-solving skills, and even hand-eye coordination.

“If I was ever running late I always had the comfort of knowing I had a breakfast sandwich waiting for me in the cafeteria,” senior Kyle Swartz said.

Students aren’t the only ones who feel this way.

“I think the breakfast program really benefited students who missed the time to find a healthy snack in the morning,” Principal Christine Siegfried said. “If it was up to me, the program would still be in place today.”