How Food Affects Academics Tutoring Club
January 12, 2012
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, child obesity rates in the United States have tripled in the past 30 years. Now more than ever, it is important to encourage children to make healthy choices at home and in the cafeteria.
Eating a well-balanced diet not only improves health but also plays a role in academic success. A report issued by Action for Healthy Kids shows that students who are well nourished perform better academically than those who engage in poor eating habits. The report states that nutrition is directly linked to academic achievement and cognitive functions. This presents a major challenge "given that the majority of our nation's youth have poor eating habits."
A study by Oxford University reports that children who receive the proper amount of nutrients show drastic improvements not only academically, but behaviorally. Research reveals that eating well-balanced, healthy meals curbs irritability, fatigue and concentration difficulties. Children who eat better generally have fewer behavioral issues in the classroom.
"Food affects behavior. To ignore the role of nutrition is indefensible. If you paid attention to diet you could really make a difference," said Dr Alexandra Richardson, who led the Oxford study.
Research has proven that there are strong academic, behavioral and health benefits to eating nutritious meals. As a result, some efforts have been made to provide healthy meal options in the cafeteria. Lunch programs have been implemented in schools across the country to encourage and enable children to eat healthy and get the nutrients they need.
Farm to School, a program that connects schools with local farms, aims to provide fresh fruits and vegetables in schools. The program has gained momentum with more than 2,350 Farm to School programs across all 50 states.
Encouraging children to make healthy choices starts at home. It is vital that parents talk with their children about how to make good choices in the cafeteria and provide healthy meals with ample amounts of fresh foods at home.
"I think what you want to instill in the child is to balance the meals, with a protein source, a vegetable source, etc... the parents need to sit down with the child and figure out what they'll pick," suggests registered dietician Joan Salge Blake.
Parents should be mindful of the kinds of foods that their children are eating. Being aware of school lunch menus and helping children make healthy choices are steps in the right direction to raising healthy children and successful students.
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