The Importance of Childhood Nutrition

Research conducted by Children’s HealthWatch and reported on by Feeding America [Child Food Insecurity: The Economic Impact on Our Nation] finds strong ties to nutrition and overall health and well-being:

• Food-insecure children are 90% more likely to have their overall health reported as “fair/poor” rather than “excellent/good” than kids from food-secure homes.
• Food insecurity is linked to increased hospitalizations, developmental problems, headaches, stomachaches and even colds.
• When children eat breakfast, they tend to consume more nutrients and experience lower obesity rates.
• Hunger in childhood has been linked to significant health problems in adulthood.

Well-fed kids tend to be healthier overall:

• Healthier Overall: Food-insecure kids are 90% more likely to have their overall health reported as “fair/poor” rather than “excellent/good” than kids from food secure homes. [Child Food Insecurity: The Economic Impact on Our Nation]
• More Vitamins: Children who consume breakfast at school tend to have significantly higher daily intakes of energy and protein and are more likely to obtain two-thirds of the RDA for vitamins A, E, D, and B6, as well as other minerals, than children who did not eat school breakfast. [National Institutes of Health (NIH)]

• Have Fewer Developmental Problems: Young children from food-insecure households are two-thirds more likely to be at risk of developmental problems than those from households with enough to eat. [National Institutes of Health (NIH)]
• Have Lower Obesity Rates: Girls from food-insecure households are significantly less likely to become overweight (68 percent) if they participate in federal nutrition programs like the school lunch and breakfast programs. [American Medical Association (AMA)]