This story shares how integral improving the school lunchroom experience is to children's nutritional and social-emotional health.
".... Studies have shown that when kids have 20 minutes or less to eat, they will eat less food and skip the fruit. Even if fiber and vitamin-rich foods end up on a kid’s tray, that doesn’t mean the kids have time to eat them, and this food often ends up in the trash. Changing food without addressing the time and conditions needed to eat those foods can get in the way of healthy eating."
"And when the kids had access to a more nutritious breakfast, Essien saw better behavior on campus. He said having nutritious food affected kids’ behavior and their ability to redirect negative behavior. He also said the food helped kids’ academics and studies have shown a correlation between nutritious food and test scores.
“We saw a change in all of that when we addressed the food issue,” said Essien.
By listening to student needs around food, and taking the bold step to change how schools have always done things, these schools and their districts are meeting student needs, while in the process, developing relationships and improving classroom behavior."
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