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Importance of healthy diet for kids essay
Importance of healthy diet for kids essay
The importance of healthy eating and exercise for children
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It is a simple fact that what we eat affects who we are. Most people know that what is put into our bodies on a daily basis will always come back to bite us, or reward us. However, many people mindlessly fill their bodies with unhealthy foods, and question later why they are feeling the way they are. Some search themselves for why they are feeling so bad, but overlook the fact that the cause may be in the bag of Doritos next to them. Nutrition plays an integral role in our lives and directly manifests itself through day to day cognition, general quality of life, and even life long cognitive development.
The development of the mind is a constant process. It is the ongoing and ever-transforming source of all human knowledge. Everyone grows and learns differently, therefore, it is very hard to find, or even collect, accurate data corresponding to mental health and development on a large scale. However, the easiest place to find information like this is in schools. Students are subject to constant monitoring, and objective assessment on a daily basis, and elementary students in particular offer treasure troves of developmental data that we can use to make inferences regarding a number of independent variables, one of the them being their intake of food throughout a normal school day.
In a child's first years of life, it is important for optimal growth that they receive improved nutrition and improved learning opportunities. Not only are those two factors independently crucial to early development, but it has been said that they have a direct correlation. Among a plethora of results gathered from a study done in 2011 by Kate Northstone et al are “novel associations between dietary patterns in early childhood, and current diet, with ...
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“Hungry for Change” is an eye opening documentary made to explore the role that food plays in peoples’ lives. The experts, ranging from authors to medical doctors, address a variety of claims through testimonials, experiments, and statistical evidence. They not only state the flaws in this generation’s diet but also logically explain the reasons behind the downfall in peoples’ diet and offer better ways to approach our health.
Nutrition and health have become more popular in today 's society. Our generation is becoming more and more indebted to the idea of being healthy and eating nutritious meals. However, in “The American Paradox,” by Michael Pollan he argues that our unhealthy population is preoccupied with nutrition and the idea of eating healthy than their actual health. He also mentions the food industry, nutrition science and how culture affects the way we eat and make food choices. While Pollan is right about all these factor that affect our eating habits, there is more to it than that. Convenience, affordability and social influence also affects our food choices making them inadequate.
Eating is an instinctual habit; however, what we decide to put in our body is a choice that will affect our way of living. In “The American Paradox,” Michael Pollan, a professor of journalism at University of California, Berkeley, disapproves of the way Americans have been eating. The term “American paradox” describes the inverse correlation where we spend more of our time on nutrition, but it would only lead to our overall health deteriorating. According to Pollan, our way of eating that had been governed with culture, or our mother, was changed by the entities of food marketers and scientists, who set up nutritional guidelines that changed the way we think about food. Nutritional advice is inaccurate as it is never proven, and it is not beneficial
Active kids who need more calories than the federal limits are also at risk, and may end up feeling weak, fatigued or nauseous during sports and exercise. According to a 2012 article written by registered dietitian Timi Gustafson, not getting enough essential nutrients at meals may lower kids’ IQ scores, memory capacities, fine motor skills, social skills and languages skills into early adulthood and beyond. A child’s poor dietary habits can even influence his sleep patterns, which may have an effect on cognitive behaviors and academic abilities. The results of a research review published in 2004 in the "British Journal of Nutrition," children who are micronutrient-deficient may exhibit more aggressiveness, less mental endurance and lower intelligence test scores. our school lunches are affecting our learning abilities and this is a problem that needs to be resolved
2. Cohen, J. et al. Psychological Distress Is Associated with Unhealthful Dietary Practices. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 102:699-703, 2002.
Proper nutrition is important in maintaining a long and healthy life. Most Americans are rushed due to their busy work schedules, and do not take the time to plan their diets properly. Like me, most Americans are unaware of the importance of eating a healthy diet and consume too many foods without the proper nutrients. Throughout my life I have been fortunate. I have not had any major health problems, and have been able to consume most foods without having to worry about gaining weight. These last two years, however, I started to gain weight and have become concerned with my diet. Changing my poor eating habits has been difficult for me, however, having this assignment has taught me that it is not as difficult as I previously imagined.
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Schanzenbach, Diane Whitmore. “Do School Lunches Contribute to Childhood Obesity?.” Journal of Human Resources 44.3 (2009): 684-709. ERIC. Web. 15 Feb. 2012.
There are many different kinds of effects that come from not consuming the right amount of the nutrients everyday. Receiving the right amount is key especially for children ages zero to three years old. Some physical effects in early-aged children is the inability to fully develop in growth and their ability to fight infections is very weak. Other physical conditions found in children are chronic health issues such as, asthma and Cystic Fibrosis, also many children find themselves needing to be hospitalized. Mental effects are taken into account as well, because many children experience behavioral consequences and challenges: Children also suffer from anxiety and aggression issues. Young children are not only people affected from lack of nutrients, but adults experience both physical and mental problems too. Adults are not as affected by not getting the accurate amount of nutrients, these ages unfortunately do not get to live a...
Young,E,Fors,S.(2001). Factors Related to the Eating Habits of Students in Grades 9-12. Journal of School Health, 71(10), 483-488.
The poor food choices that men and women make is the cause of many illnesses, disease and chronic health conditions. Men and women generally have different thoughts and choices on the topic of healthy food. People’s bad health may be genetically occurred or their exposure to their past nutritional education was not helpful, but their bad health is primarily based upon the poor choices that the individuals choose in daily life.
Breakfast is one of the best ways to recharge your batteries. It is a perfect time to boost your energy. Studies also suggest that eating a healthy breakfast improves brain function particularly memory and recall. This is essential for soaking up new knowledge and applying it later for a big test. Research shows that eating a healthy breakfast improves one academically. Scientists believe it may be because breakfast supplies nutrients to the nervous system to rev up brain power. Breakfast skippers tend to weigh more than those who eat breakfast regularly. Also, those who eat a morning meal tend to make healthier food choices throughout the day, which can positively impact weight and long-term health. Encourage eating breakfast daily at home or school and make it easy and
Diets of individuals affect mental activities, such as school work. The brain feeds off of what we put into our bodies and allows for “dynamic, responsive, and efficient new connections [to] be made” in the brain (Norman). The neurons located inside the brain help “drive our thinking, learning, feeling, and states of being. Neurons requires good fats, proteins, complex carbohydrates, micronutrients- vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, and water…[which] are used to drive the learning functions of [the] neurons” (Norman). As a result, we are aiding ...
I would like to offer insight into the deleterious effects unsubstantial food consumption has in correlation with academic performance. In order to more effectively approach the subject, I would like to allocate an informational background on what has been examined about certain aspects of the topic. In an article written on the study of food and the human brain (Gomez-Pinilla, 2008), Dr. Gomez-Pinilla stresses that the relationship between the level of food quality and the brain is so delicately interwoven within our brain...
“Students who cut corners on sleep often adopt unhealthy eating habits, an analysis by the American Psychological Association states” (Heibutzki). It is human nature to intake fatty foods to conserve energy. College students are seen eating Ramen Noodles, Pop Tarts, and Fast foods. These foods are high in sugar, carbohydrates, and fats. These ingredients result in a low energy lifestyle. These calories are quickly stored in the body and used as fat instead of energy. Students can eat healthier by eating various fruits and vegetables instead of fatty snacks or burgers from fast food restaurants. Receiving the right amount of calories and nutrients are important if a person wants to live a healthy lifestyle. “This situation is compounded by skipping healthier, balanced items that improve learning and memory, such as kiwi fruit, salmon and walnuts” (Heibutzki). These natural foods are found to increase a person’s memory. These foods are not being take advantage of because the lack of