It’s no secret that kids, who eat school lunches tend to have better nutrition and a lower body mass index (BMI). This is important because, childhood obesity can cause serious health problems as they get older.
But there’s more to healthy eating than just what you put on your plate. Here are five things about school meals that make them so critical for children’s health:
School meals are an important part of healthy eating.
School meals are a critical part of healthy eating – and there are many benefits of eating school meals. Children who eat school meals have better nutrition and health- including lower BMI (body mass index) and higher academic performance. They also have more opportunities to experience new foods and flavors which can help prevent picky eating habits from developing.
School lunch programs provide free or reduced-price lunches for students who qualify based on their family income.
In addition to providing basic sustenance, these programs provide an opportunity for children to learn about food safety practices in the kitchen setting where they may not – otherwise get exposure outside of school hours something that could be helpful later when they become adults living independently from their parents’ homes!
Children are more likely to eat a variety of nutritious foods.
Children eating school meals are more likely to eat various nutritious foods. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that students, who ate school lunches had higher intakes of iron and calcium than those who brought their lunches or bought food at school.
In addition- students who ate lunch at school were less likely to be overweight or obese than those who brought their lunches or bought food.
Lower body mass index (BMI).
A lower body mass index (BMI) means a child is healthier. Children who eat school meals have a lower BMI than children, who don’t.
The BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. It’s an indicator of body fatness for most people, and it’s used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems like high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels if they aren’t addressed by lifestyle changes or medication.
Improved academic performance.
With school meals, students are more likely to eat nutritious foods and take advantage of the school meal program. Research has shown that students who participate in the National School Lunch Program have better health outcomes and improved academic performance than those who don’t participate.
For example:
- Students who were part of a study on nutrition education had higher scores on standardized tests than their non-educated peers. They also ate more fruits and vegetables during lunchtime and less junk food on weekends than kids who didn’t receive similar training.
- Children who participated in programs like “Let’s Move!” were less likely as teenagers than their non-involved peers to be overweight or obese.
Opportunity for children to experience new foods and flavors.
The opportunity for children to experience new foods and flavors is another significant benefit of school lunches.
Children are more likely to try new foods if offered at school, so getting your kids involved in planning menus can help them learn about healthy eating habits early on.
And if your child has a food allergy or intolerance, identifying those issues early on will make life easier later on (and prevent any unnecessary health problems).
There you go!
The school meal program is a critical part of healthy eating for children. It provides access to foods they might not otherwise have and allows them to experience new flavors and tastes. We know that children who eat more fruits and vegetables tend to eat better overall, which can be an essential step toward improving their diets.
Finally, the program helps kids maintain a healthy weight by providing nutritious meals low in fat but high in vitamins A and C (two nutrients found abundantly in citrus fruits).
