Are your children fit to learn - here's food for thought

Everyone knows the importance of a healthy diet and particularly the importance of eating fresh fruit and vegetables but did you know how important healthy eating is to your child’s success in tests and exams? Lots of sugary foods and fizzy drinks full of additives and preservatives can sap energy and leave them feeling sluggish, whereas healthy, nutritious food and plain drinking water can bring real positive benefits.

It’s not just an old wives’ tale that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. For growing children this is particularly the case and at challenging times such as test or examination time it is vital. Before your youngster sets off for their test or exam, it can really help if you provide a healthy, nutritious breakfast of, for example, cereal (preferably one low in sugar!), fruit juice, yoghurt, wholemeal toast or bread.

And did you know that water is real brain food?

• Did you know that water regulates body temperature, carries oxygen to all cells in the body and helps convert food into energy.?
• Did you know that the human brain is 75% water and that by being even slightly dehydrated it can cause dizziness or headaches?
• Did you know that by the time you actually feel thirsty it’s often too late? 20% of your brain can have shut down and therefore you’ll find it harder to think and harder to concentrate.

All of these are reasons why Kirklees LEA will be providing a healthy snack, fruit and a sports bottle of water before every end of Key Stage 2 test and every GCSE this year.

Such healthy habits are not just for exam time but for life.

• A new report exposes Britain as one of the worst countries in Europe for skipping breakfast.
• Britain isn't taking breakfast seriously, with 1 in 5 adults now skipping it altogether.
• 1 in 5 children are also skipping breakfast, going to school on an empty stomach despite evidence that eating breakfast can help improve concentration and behaviour.
• The University of Reading recently revealed a 12 year old who skips breakfast has the reaction time and mental agility of a 70 year old in the classroom.
• 1 in 4 children who skip breakfast, snack on crisps and chocolate on the way to school and are more likely to snack again at break time.
• Sara Stanner, Nutrition Scientist for the British Nutrition Foundation, comments: "It would be great to see breakfast making a revival. A high carbohydrate, low fat breakfast can make an important nutritional contribution to the diet, particularly for young people. It refuels the body and mind for the day ahead."
• Breakfasts at weekends can provide much needed family social time, time to discuss the week’s events and future plans.

Adapted from Parentline