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La. (KNOE) – As students across northeast Louisiana return to school, local health experts are urging parents to pay closer attention to what their children eat during the school day
Experts say the foods children consume at lunch directly affect their ability to focus and retain information in class
Cindy Brantley, a registered dietitian and nutritionist in Monroe, recommends whole, unprocessed foods over packaged or convenience options
“We’re looking for more whole, intact, non-processed food,” Brantley said. “And when I say that, processed food basically is taking something and then they chemically changed it to where it’s portable and it has a lot of salt and added sugar. So when I mean unprocessed food, I’m talking like just the apple or just the orange.”
Brantley pointed to RealFood.gov, a USDA res a tool for parents planning meals
“Normally what I recommend is that you try to aim for four of those six food groups, if possible, for the meal and two to three of the six food groups for your snacks,” Brantley said
- Starchy carbohydrates
- Milk & yogurt (also carbs)
- Fruit
- Non-starchy vegetables
- Heart healthy proteins
- Heart healthy fats
Dr. Wendy Bailes, College of Health Sciences dean at ULM, said whole foods support brain function and help students retain what they learn
“If you’re not having a healthy lunch, then all you’re focusing on is that you’re hungry,” Bailes said. “Or you eat so much at lunch because you didn’t get the healthy breakfast, then your stomach’s overloaded. Well, guess what? All that blood is going into the stomach to try to digest that food, and it’s not going where it needs to go, which is the brain.”
Bailes said processed foods have become an epidemic among young children in the United States and have contributed to health conditions not previously common in pediatric patients
“Yes, we do have higher trends of diabetes. We have higher trends of hypertension that we have not seen in our kids before. And it is because of the foods that we’re taking in,” Bailes said
Brantley said it is never too soon to teach children about healthy eating and that starting early can benefit them throughout their lives
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