Children with healthy diets perform better in school than their poorly fed counterparts, according to a study in the April issue of the Journal of School Health, a publication of the American School Health Association.
The study surveyed the diets of 5,000 Canadian fifth grade students and administered standardized literacy assessments of the children. Less healthful dietary components included saturated fat and salt, while healthy foods were classified by fruits, vegetables, grains, dietary fiber, protein, calcium and moderate fat intake.
Relative to the students in the study whose diets were deemed unhealthy, the students with healthier diets rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains were 41% less likely to fail the literacy assessment.
According to the authors of the study, the findings support the need for additional investment in school nutrition programs to improve the diet, health and academic performance of school children.
Read more about the study here. Learn about Arico’s philosophy about how good foods impact health.