Arthur Agatston, creator of the South Beach Diet, conducted a study over two years examining the eating habits of nearly 2,000 students. Upon conclusion his team found that adding more nutritional food to the lunch menu boosted academic performance while lowering blood pressure and weight. Math scores saw the highest improvement.
Due to the importance of academic excellence a variety of programs have been incorporated into schools. The United States Department of Agriculture's Farm to School encourages schools to use produce and product from local farmers for nutritional meals. This program will be implemented as of 2011. Healthier Options for Public Schoolchildren is another program found in low-income schools. This program provides meals for children from low-income families.
Though healthy lunches help students improve academically, it is not the easiest to interest children in healthy food. Serve a variety of food from the start to interest your children in different tastes and textures. Avoid giving your children sugary drinks and do not cater to picky eaters. Teach children how to choose the healthiest lunches by reviewing the weekly menu together.
A Canadian study published in the Journal of School Health tested 5,000 students to examine their academic performance. This study found that those who ate more fruits and vegetables scored higher than those who ate unhealthy foods high in sugar and fat.