Nutritional status and academic achievement

The purpose of this study was to review existing literature about past research that highlighted studies concerning nutrition and its relationship to student¿s achievement, cognition, learning, and their grades. There is evidence that school breakfast and lunch programs are not up to par with current United States Department of Agriculture standards and that USDA standards may not be utilizing the latest research about nutrition. Studies have shown that proper nutrition has a direct effect on student performance and behavior in school. Much of the literature I reviewed confirmed that nutrition has a direct effect on neurotransmitters which are important in sending messages from the body to the brain. Specific dietary components were shown to have negative effects on this system, many of which are commonplace in school-aged children¿s daily eating. Unfortunately, school breakfast and lunch programs, in many cases, inhibit the body¿s cognitive and energy potentials by not providing proper nutrition