Miriam Contreras held her 8-month old infant while her older two ate breakfast recently under a shade tree in Edison Park.

"The food is yummy," said 8-year-old Jasmine Contreras, of Edison School.

Eleven-year-old Stephanie Contreras, of Hammond Baptist, said, "The food is good and it's free."

The Contreras children are part of the School City of Hammond's Summer Nutrition Program.

The School City of Hammond began the program in 1996 and operates it in 12 parks.

East Chicago's school district also offers the program at 13 sites, according to Connie Berber, food program director.

Friday's breakfast in Edison Park consisted of bagels, cream cheese or jelly, 2 percent milk and orange juice.

"We've been coming for about seven years and it's good to spend time with the kids," Miriam Contreras said. "They swim afterward and I stay with them."

As federally subsidized nutrition programs, they operate through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

To qualify, a school district must have at least 50 percent of students who are eligible for free and reduced lunches, said Diane Schweitzer, Hammond's director of food services.

Students must be 18 years and younger to get the free breakfast and lunch meals, which must be eaten on site.

Schweitzer said the district serves about 1,300 students for breakfast and 1,700 for lunch daily.

She expects the numbers to increase after the pool opens on June 16.

East Chicago Assistant Superintendent Dawn Greene said the summer feeding program helps to "meet some of the other needs because we want our students to be ready to learn when the bell rings."

The district serves between 1,200 to 1,500 students breakfast and lunch daily, Berber said.

"With the economy and so many layoffs, this is a plus for parents that kids can eat breakfast and lunch for free," Berber said. "I truly believe just because school is out, nutrition and education should not end."

About 85 percent of East Chicago students qualify for free and reduced lunches, she said.

The state reimburses the district $1.70 per student for breakfast and $2.98 for lunch, said Larry Farkas, of Sodexo, the schools' food management company.

Cameron Howell, of Central High, marks his seventh year with the nutrition program. The school district has been participating 28 years.

"The food tastes good," the 15-year-old said while eating a lunch of mostaccioli and green beans, chocolate pudding and milk.

"I like it. The breakfasts fill me up, not greasy like fast-food. The lunches are like real ones you get when you go to a restaurant."