Are Your Students Eating Their Superfoods?

According to the USDA, poor nutrition—including eating too much fat, sugar and sodium and not eating enough fruits and vegetables—affects students' performance in school. Poor nutrition affects kids' energy levels, ability to concentrate, and ability to learn. Poor nutrition also leads to increased illness and absenteeism.

Most children in the U.S. are not eating enough fruits and vegetables (1998 USDA data).

• Fewer than 15% of elementary students eat the recommended 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
• Average fruit and vegetable intake among 6-11 year olds is only 3.5 servings a day.
• Over half of all elementary students eat no fruit on any given day and three out of 10 students eat less than one serving of vegetables a day.
• One-quarter of all vegetables eaten by elementary students are French fries, a high-fat, low-nutrient vegetable option.

For more information on what kids in the United States are eating, go to our 1999 report on The Exploding Pyramid, which shows how children are eating too many high-fat, high-sugar foods and not enough nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables and grains.