As children, we were always told “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” or “we are what we eat,” and many of us never really questioned what that really meant. We pass this information along to our children, but what about when they ask what that means? At Academic Learning Labs, we know that there are many things that equate to a head start when it comes to learning. Below are some of the different ways that healthy eating habits have an impact on the learning effectiveness of our children.
Research has shown that students learn better when they are well nourished. Healthy eating has been directly linked to higher grades, better memory, better information processing, alertness and better school attendance.
Breakfast and Learning
Many of us know that ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’, but what is it that makes it such an important meal When a child eats a high-quality breakfast, they tend to perform better than those of a lower quality. The quality of breakfast was based upon where foods fall on the glycemic index, or GI, and those found lower on the index were associated with faster information processing. Some examples of low-GI foods are fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole-grain breads and cereals.
Eating and Memory
Food is fuel for your child’s brain. Children need to consistently refuel their brains, so snacks and regular meals can help boost any decline in memory and attention. Some foods that are linked to better memory are yogurt with blueberries, a hard-boiled egg, and celery with peanut butter.
Eating and Alertness
According to the Mayo clinic, kids who eat healthy are more likely to participate in school and attend classes more regularly. Children who are not getting the proper nutrition or enough calories will not have enough energy to power the brain, which can lead to fatigue and learning problems. Additionally, alertness and mood is improved in students who eat a balanced meal and can help improve academic performance by helping students boost their eagerness to learn.
Junk Food and Learning
According to a study published in the “Journal of School Health”, students who drank more sweetened beverages, such as sugary sodas, scored lower on math tests. Diets high in junk food have also been linked to childhood obesity, which can result in lower cognitive functioning and decreased attention span.
We hope that some of these tips and explanations have helped you in understanding the importance of healthy eating habits and how it can affect learning. We would love to hear your feedback on how healthy eating has helped your child’s learning or any healthy food options your child enjoys.
