Getting Students Ready to Learn

Eating to Learn

By Eric Jensen

Many school food-service programs were designed for bone and muscle growth, not the brain's learning requirements. There can be a middle ground. Food must supply the nutrients necessary for learning, and the critical nutrients include proteins, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and sugars. The brain also needs a wide range of trace elements such as boron, selenium, vanadium, and potassium.

According to a National Research Council report, Americans eat too much fat, protein, and simple carbohydrates. They eat too few fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates. Even with federally funded breakfast programs, many kids still get only simple carbohydrates. That's insufficient for basic, much less optimal, learning and memory. In addition, many children have food allergies (most commonly to dairy products) that can cause behavioral and learning problems.

Are specific foods particularly good for the brain? There are many, but children rarely get enough of them. They include leafy green vegetables, salmon, nuts, lean meats, and fresh fruits. Other evidence indicates that vitamin and mineral supplements can boost learning, memory, and intelligence.