Good Nutrition Can Boost School Performance, Expert Says

A healthy diet can help students excel in school, a registered dietitian says. One of the best ways to jump-start a successful school day is to provide children with a nutritious morning meal, says Debby Boutwell, a clinical dietitian in the division of nutrition therapy at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. This doesn't necessarily mean serving traditional breakfast foods, however. For school children, Boutwell recommends a breakfast that includes high-fiber grains, fruit and dairy products. Here are some options: Fiber rich and whole-grain cereals with low fat milk Yogurt and berries Toast, eggs and 100 percent fruit juice Whole-wheat bagels and cheese or eggs with low-fat milk Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with low-fat milk Grilled cheese sandwich with 100 percent fruit juice http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_140064.html