Elementary School Nutrition and The Mind
The education of elementary school students depends on a number of factors: culture, location, gender, and the list goes on and on. Now consider that just about every factor influences the way a child thinks—a somewhat obvious observation since that is clearly one of the goals of education. But what happens when there is a barrier between these stimuli and the student? We must consider child brain development as a critical factor in elementary school education.
Clearly, it is especially important for young children to eat healthily. However, many people do not know that malnourishment at a young age can delay mental growth and even lead to the acquisition of certain medical conditions (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Poor eating habits are linked to debilitation of health literacy, self-discipline, conflict negotiation, and obviously, eating habits (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Also, this is a critical period for elementary school aged children to develop obesity, asthma, developmental disorders, and behavioral disorders (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Although these medical conditions are normally nonlethal, they can alter a student’s social life and education. As continually argued, elementary school students need healthy lunches in order to fully develop.
Omega-3 fatty acids are often considered the chemical that young children lack in the neural developmental process. Because of their role in “growth and function of nervous tissue,” omega-3’s are one of the most important chemicals in child development (Innis, 2007). Most notably, a deficiency of these chemicals is “associated with impairments in cognitive and behavioral performance” (Innis, 2007). However, the issue is there are few foods with ample omega-3’s count: flaxseed, canola oil, fish oil, and some dairy and eggs products specially fortified with omega-3’s (Innis, 2007). Relating this back to elementary school nutrition, these foods are often absent from school lunches. Of any, fish is sometimes in school lunches. Adults usually need over two servings of fish per week to satisfy their omega-3 count, and developing children need even more (Pritchard, 2011). To truly be considered healthy lunches, elementary schools should look into offering more foods made with fish oil and fortified dairy/egg products to help youth achieve their omega-3 count to promote brain development.
Clearly, it is especially important for young children to eat healthily. However, many people do not know that malnourishment at a young age can delay mental growth and even lead to the acquisition of certain medical conditions (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Poor eating habits are linked to debilitation of health literacy, self-discipline, conflict negotiation, and obviously, eating habits (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Also, this is a critical period for elementary school aged children to develop obesity, asthma, developmental disorders, and behavioral disorders (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Although these medical conditions are normally nonlethal, they can alter a student’s social life and education. As continually argued, elementary school students need healthy lunches in order to fully develop.
Omega-3 fatty acids are often considered the chemical that young children lack in the neural developmental process. Because of their role in “growth and function of nervous tissue,” omega-3’s are one of the most important chemicals in child development (Innis, 2007). Most notably, a deficiency of these chemicals is “associated with impairments in cognitive and behavioral performance” (Innis, 2007). However, the issue is there are few foods with ample omega-3’s count: flaxseed, canola oil, fish oil, and some dairy and eggs products specially fortified with omega-3’s (Innis, 2007). Relating this back to elementary school nutrition, these foods are often absent from school lunches. Of any, fish is sometimes in school lunches. Adults usually need over two servings of fish per week to satisfy their omega-3 count, and developing children need even more (Pritchard, 2011). To truly be considered healthy lunches, elementary schools should look into offering more foods made with fish oil and fortified dairy/egg products to help youth achieve their omega-3 count to promote brain development.
Malnutrition Effects Academic Performance
As the image to the left displays, there are many different ways in which nutrition can affect the mind, especially when the mind is still in a developmental stage. For example, it stresses the importance of eating the correct amounts of proteins, to develop and grow the body in a healthy manner, while showing that eating the correct amount of carbohydrates can give a student energy to work toward their educational purposes. Young students lack the knowledge and true depiction of how important it is to eat healthily in order to develop their minds, which can lead to a lack of educational motivation and/or educational retainment of information. In an article entitled "Eating With Health in Mind" a "Wellness program" is outlined for students to gain awareness in the way that they are eating.
This study outlines the absolute importance for students to truly be aware of what they are eating, and also to keep health/ mental capacities in mind while doing so. The article represents a dilemma regarding nutritional habits, which was "to improve students' diets and eating habits to help them learn effectively and meet high standards in school (Eating With Health In Mind, 2007)." The people who created this program felt that students did not realize the importance of eating correctly, and the correlation between the food they eat and the information that they learn. It is truly important for these students to realize the connectedness between the two. For example, the consumption of an inadequate amount of Omega-3 Fatty acids can lead to a number of detrimental affects to a developing brain, such as: deficits in neurogenesis, neurotransmitter metabolism, and altered learning and visual function in the brain. This is a clear depiction of the negative effects of malnutrition, especially related to education. Without a proper functioning neurotransmitting system, students will lose the ability to focus on and retain information, so why, then, do schools not offer the correct amount of nutritional intake at the public school level?
This study outlines the absolute importance for students to truly be aware of what they are eating, and also to keep health/ mental capacities in mind while doing so. The article represents a dilemma regarding nutritional habits, which was "to improve students' diets and eating habits to help them learn effectively and meet high standards in school (Eating With Health In Mind, 2007)." The people who created this program felt that students did not realize the importance of eating correctly, and the correlation between the food they eat and the information that they learn. It is truly important for these students to realize the connectedness between the two. For example, the consumption of an inadequate amount of Omega-3 Fatty acids can lead to a number of detrimental affects to a developing brain, such as: deficits in neurogenesis, neurotransmitter metabolism, and altered learning and visual function in the brain. This is a clear depiction of the negative effects of malnutrition, especially related to education. Without a proper functioning neurotransmitting system, students will lose the ability to focus on and retain information, so why, then, do schools not offer the correct amount of nutritional intake at the public school level?
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