How Healthy, Well-Balanced Meals Boost Brain Development in Children

As parents, we all want our children to succeed in school and excel in academics, but did you know what they eat throughout the day can impact their performance? In fact, students who eat meals that are aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) are better learners, receive higher test scores, earn higher academic grades, and have reduced instances of being absent from school, says Kim Doyle, senior director of nutrition and compliance at Revolution Foods, citing a 2018 study from the University of California, Berkeley. Revolution Foods aims to transform citywide wellness by designing, producing and delivering 2 million healthy, freshly prepared meals per week to schools and community sites nationwide, including 200 schools and community sites throughout greater New York and New Jersey.

“Three well-rounded meals can completely change the trajectory of a student’s day,” agrees Dominick Hayman, M.S., NDTR, product development chef for the New York/New Jersey region at Revolution Foods. “A lack thereof would mean the student isn’t focusing on their schoolwork. They’re hungry, they’re distracted, and it makes it a lot harder for them to retain information throughout the day.”

With the aforementioned study proving the quality of students’ meals have an impact on their academic success, parents may be left wondering how they can ensure their children are getting brain-boosting nutrients every day. Doyle, who oversees the menu development process while ensuring all meals are compliant with various regulatory agencies, and Hayman, who works closely with students in the area to create culturally and regionally relevant menus that broaden their palates, share what you need to know to ensure your child eats brain-healthy foods that can help boost their academic success.
   

Best Foods for Brain Development

Proper nutrition starts well before a child is born, so it is imperative mothers ensure they’re getting proper nutrients during pregnancy, according to Doyle. “It not only impacts early childhood education, but also that person's brain ability for the rest of their life,” she adds.