Good Nutrition Helps Students Find Success In School

Adrian H. Cline, Superintendent

September 4, 20001

Many would not consider the school breakfast and lunch program to be a significant factor in the quest of a school’s mission. However, differences in the behavior of students before and after eating suggest that food does more than fill students’ stomachs; it enables them to learn. Therefore, taking a closer look at the school breakfast and lunch program is the first step to understanding the importance of good nutrition in ensuring student success in school.

From watching the school food service in action, it is obvious that the students are eating and enjoying the meals. This is partly because our food service department seeks input schools from students groups to help plan the menus, thus giving the students a say in some school decisions. By including students in the planning of the menus, schools are teaching them about nutrition and eating well.

Hunger is a primary motive of human behavior. If students leave home in the morning without eating breakfast, they will have a difficult time learning during the morning hours. A school breakfast and lunch can help them last through the day. If a student cannot afford the breakfast or lunch, there are possibilities of his or her receiving reduced-cost or free meals.

Studies have shown that there are many undernourished students in schools. Many students do not consume enough milk, are lacking sufficient protein, and do not eat the necessary amounts of fruits and vegetables. Schools have realized this, and so in 1946, Congress created the School Lunch Program as "a measure of national security to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation’s children." Most schools participate in this USDA-sponsored program which guarantees nutritional benefits for children.

The school mealtime can also provide a healthy social aspect to the students’ growth. In school the intense activities of teaching and learning are very demanding. Mealtime provides a health break for all. This break is a planned and supervised activity. Relationships with peers can develop, and decisions about behavior can give opportunities for the students to mature. Learning to deal with peers in a different setting is an excellent life-building skill.

Educators often use this time to observe and to gather a great deal of information about students. By observing the eating patterns and habits of students, they can diagnose some difficulties a student may be having within another environment. Occasionally, within a classroom these problems will go unnoticed, but lunchtime may provide vital information needed for motivating a student to learn.

Schools are a complex component of our community. All of us should be aware of how valuable the school lunch program is in enhancing a student’s education. We should participate whenever possible and encourage our own children to enjoy their healthy breakfasts and lunches.

The Office of Adrian H. Cline, Superintendent of Schools, is open from 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. You are invited to visit the district web site at: www.desotoschools.com