Proper Nutrition Adds to Success in School

As millions of school children head back to the classroom, parents have two lessons of their own to learn: 1) why their kids may not be eating what is packed in their lunches, and 2) the correlation between good nutrition and strong academic performance.

"A healthy, well-balanced lunch can help your child's mental acuity and alertness," said Ann Louise Gittleman, M.S., certified nutrition specialist. "But, that's only if they eat that well-balanced meal."

Lesson One: The Lunch Packed is Not Always the Lunch Eaten

According to a May/June 1998 study by Wirthlin Worldwide, almost half of children surveyed trade lunch items at least once or twice a week, with nearly 10 percent trading every day. When kids were asked why they trade lunch items, most said that they didn't like their own lunch or were bored with the same items. Many kids view trading as an important social activity, a ritual or a game.

With kids trading and discarding various items in their lunches, from sandwiches and fruit to milk and snacks, it is difficult to guarantee a well-balanced meal and preparedness for a day of learning. While there are no guarantees children will eat their lunch, by incorporating the following tips into the brown-bagging routine, parents may deter kids from trading lunch items away:

Common sense tells us that if children don't eat something at home, most likely they won't eat it at school. Let your kids help pack the lunch and identify nutritious foods they like and will eat.
Vary the items you pack in their lunches -- such as a sandwich one day, and macaroni and vegetable salad the next.
Use different breads for sandwiches such as pita, rolls or hot dog buns; cut the sandwiches with a cookie cutter to make them more visually appealing and fun.
Don't deny your children snacks, because they'll get them another way. Instead of cookies or chips, try a healthy treat, such as Balance Bars , that will satisfy that craving.
Encourage kids to eat colorful vegetables by including a tasty dip. Vegetables pack a powerful nutrition punch because they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and fiber.
Add color and a little sweetness to lunch with delicious fruit. Remember, at least five servings of fruits and vegetables are recommended daily.
Set a good example for your children by eating healthy, well-balanced meals yourself.

Lesson Two: The Importance of Good Nutrition

Nearly all parents (95 percent) surveyed by Wirthlin Worldwide say they are careful about monitoring the nutritional value of their children's lunches. But fewer parents (only 36 percent) say there is a strong connection between what their child eats for lunch and his or her academic performance. Recent research from Tufts University confirms the link between nutrition and cognitive development in children.

According to the university's study on severely undernourished children, "Even nutritional deficiencies of a relatively short-term nature influence children's behavior, ability to concentrate, and to perform complex tasks."

"If a child skips breakfast, or does not have a nutritious lunch, that day's test scores may suffer," says Gittleman. "Surely, if parents fully understood the impact food has on their children's school work, they would more carefully plan lunch, supply breakfast in the morning, and have healthy snacks throughout the day.

"Parents should talk with their kids about the importance of good nutrition," Gittleman continues. "It is essential that children understand not just what they should do, but why they should do it."

Good nutrition helps with school performance by stabilizing blood sugar levels. "Benefits of a stable blood sugar include extended energy and balanced moods, which can also impact a child's ability to perform well in school," concludes Gittleman.

Courtesy of Article Resource Association, www.aracopy.com

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