Recently researchers have started to show what many parents and teachers have known for years: when children eat healthier foods (especially more fruits and vegetables and less junk food), they experience improved academic performance and fewer behavioral issues in school. For many this may seem like common sense.
At EFP we think it’s important to examine current research and take it into consideration when planning our programs. After all, there is some compelling research out there.

Studies from the University of Minnesota, Harvard and Rutgers have all shown that middle-school students and teens who eat meals with their families eat more fruit, vegetables, and calcium-rich foods, and consume less junk food. Some of the research has also shown that kids who engage in family mealtimes are at lower risk for unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and drug/alcohol use.

While we acknowledge the importance of this research, we are also aware that research changes constantly. Therefore, when it comes to designing our school menus and food-based enrichment programs, we feel it is even more important to rely on our intuition, what we know to be true about nutrition basics (e.g. that whole foods are healthier than processed foods), and our own experiences with kids as a guide.