Leverage nutrition to improve school performance

The Campaign for Education Equity has published a paper calling for schools to focus on key health disparities as a method to improve school performance, especially among low-income and minority youth. The report asks schools to target seven major health disparities, one of which is eating breakfast daily. These disparities, both individually and collectively, affect children’s ability to learn through five major causal pathways: sensory perceptions, cognition, school connectedness and engagement, absenteeism, and temporary or permanent dropping out.

While the entire dietary pattern of children is important to cognitive function and school performance, breakfast is identified as a leverage point that schools can use to increase achievement. Nutrient deficiencies are linked to physical, mental, and behavioral health problems, as well as learning deficiencies, lower arithmetic grades, and repeating a grade. The quality of a child’s breakfast is especially important to brain function because of the timing of the meal.

The report also stresses the synergistic effects of the different health disparities. This means that breakfast and the related nutritional deficiencies also contribute to other key health disparities such as vision, inattention, and hyperactivity. In order to improve education and achievement on a broad scale, assuring nutrient-rich, daily breakfasts is key.

Read the entire report here.