How Does Healthy Food Connect To The Test Scores Of Students?

Academic performance and test scores can be important in your child's path to success. Traditional factors, such as classroom environment and homework completion, can certainly influence school grades. Current research also suggests that nutrition and dietary factors significantly affect academic performance. Sam Kass, White House senior policy adviser for Healthy Food Initiatives, recently blogged that "the writing is on the chalkboard -- healthy eating and physical activity are vital ingredients for kids to thrive, at school and into the future."

Breakfast

You've heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day -- and this is particularly true for children in school. A study published in the February 2011 issue of the "Journal of School Health" found that students who regularly ate breakfast scored higher on standardized math tests compared to those who skipped breakfast. After a night of fasting, breakfast provides the energy your child's brain needs to perform academically. Skipping this nourishment can lead to difficulty concentrating, shorter attention span and memory problems. School breakfast programs can also encourage better attendance and less tardiness among students, leading to better academic outcomes.

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Fruits and vegetables are low in calories and provide many vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Students who ate more fruits and vegetables were found to have greater self-reported academic performance, according to a 2008 study in the "Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research." Nutrients in fruits and vegetables help protect the body from infection, which may lead to fewer missed days of school and more learning time. Snacking on fruits and vegetables during the day may also provide a healthy boost of energy for children.

Diet Quality

Since your child's diet is a complex mixture of foods and nutrients, researchers have also examined the relationships between test scores and overall diet quality. A 2008 study from the "Journal of School Health" reported data on more than 5,000 children and found that poor diet quality was associated with inferior performance on a literacy assessment. Diets of poor quality may lack certain nutrients, like iron and zinc, which play a role in brain development, cognitive function and behavior.

Energy Balance

If your child consumes too many calories, it can lead to overweight or obesity, which may be associated with poorer academic performance. There are several reasons for this effect. Children who are overweight or obese may have other health problems, causing greater absenteeism from school and less learning time. Overweight and obese children may be teased at school, causing poor self-esteem or mental health problems, leading to subsequent declines in school performance. Conversely, consuming too few calories can be detrimental. Physical symptoms of hunger -- like stomachache, headache, and fatigue -- can interfere with concentration in the classroom and during testing.