SNAP Access in Urban America A City-by-City Snapshot

SNAP Access in Urban America A City-by-City Snapshot. Food Research and Action Center.

Michael Murphy explains the scientific research on the link between children’s nutrition and academic performance. He emphasizes the importance of school breakfast, which is a reasonably “simple intervention” that can considerably increase a student’s academic performance and psychological well-being. Skipping a meal can cause a child to have impaired learning abilities. Studies have shown that students who missed a meal have lower math scores and they are more likely to make careless mistakes on their academic work. Students who frequently miss breakfast are also more likely to repeat a grade. In addition, lack of food causes an increase in behavioral, emotional, and academic problems.

However, students who reported eating breakfast had improved cognitive abilities, attention, and memory. Children who received nourishment improved math grades, attendance, and punctuality. Consuming breakfast improves children’s performance on demanding mental tasks and reaction to frustration. Schools that participated in breakfast programs reported decreases in tardiness, school suspensions, and improved student behavior. It was also reported that adolescents who eat breakfast tend to have lower body mass index and there were significantly less risks of being overweight. Overall, nutrition allows students to perform at a higher rate and demonstrates increases in academic achievement.

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