NUTRITION FOR LEARNERS

HECTOR G. LOPEZ

Because students use up a lot of energy while they are in school, it’s essential to prime their brains and bodies with the right food. This is so they can make decisions and quickly to whatever may happen inside the classroom.

Because both teachers and students are quite busy, there is not much time to think about eating healthy. We don’t really look at the nutrition facts in food packages, do we? Much less the students, so they end up with food high in sugar and saturated fat, but low in nutrients.

Proper nutrition is not just about fuelling a healthy body, but feeding our brains, too. Students need to make good food choices for the brain, consuming non-starchy vegetables and fruits, protein and selected whole grains to enhance cognitive functioning.

Prepared snacks are a no-no.

Food with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats – which help keep hunger pangs tolerable – are found to have positive effects on blood cholesterol levels. They can be found in seeds, nuts, olive oil, and avocados and fish.

The best sources of protein are not meat, but seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, legumes like beans and peas, nuts and seeds, and soy products.

Some schools now offer fitness programs which are found to start brain functioning among students.

According to research, exercise allows blood to circulate through the different parts of the body including the brain, so students become alert.

By making sure that only nutritious and healthy foods are served and can be bought from the school canteen, students’performance is surely going to improve.

Being healthy does not only mean eating right. Students need as much physical activity also. Let’s teach our students to practice a healthy lifestyle.

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The author is Secondary School Teacher III at San Vicente-San Francisco High School