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Essay / The importance of nutrition education at school
A good and balanced diet has been shown to have a significant effect on a child's physical and mental development, especially early in life. Studies have shown that a good diet improves academic performance and learning abilities. Nutrition education is important from the early stages as it is a key element in promoting healthy eating and exercise behaviors throughout life. To this extent, children who grow up in an environment that values healthy eating habits and physical activity are less likely to suffer from chronic diseases as adults. This essay will explore the importance of teaching students the basics of nutrition in schools. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay In an article titled Nutrition Education in Schools: Experiences and Challenges, author Rodrigo Peres states that “During school age , children become more independent. They “start to make their own food choices and make personal decisions about what they eat.” Peres continues to assert that “nutrition during childhood contributes to the maintenance of optimal health and learning abilities. Additionally, eating habits that persist during adolescence are more likely to persist into adulthood. » We can therefore safely conclude that it is up to children to choose to be healthy and that the child's environment has a major effect on their mentality. When a school cares a lot about health, gives special nutrition lessons to its students, and takes specific steps to encourage self-recognition and self-protection, children will develop a sense of self-care and a good lifestyle . Behavioral science has proven that children choose the most visible and accessible foods: a small change in the school canteen environment can have significant effects on children's food choices. Several studies have identified low access and consumption of fruits and vegetables in primary school. Some programs are starting to work on this problem by distributing fruits and vegetables at school and making them available to students. This strategy has proven effective so far. Children and young people should learn to choose their diet in a society offering a wide variety of foods. Yet teaching nutrition basics should not be limited to information about diet, but should also teach the child skills related to food preparation and storage and should help improve positive body image and self-esteem. The school can follow several methods to teach the basics of nutrition, for example: class discussion, shopping with the instructor, cooking class and workshop activity. Schools can also use new technologies that offer the possibility of interactive learning experiences such as: the Internet, the World Wide Web and CD-Roms. Keep in mind: This is just a sample.Get a personalized article now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayIn conclusion of this essay, nutrition education could be considered very influential for children in school level. Because it has an immense effect on their physical and cognitive growth. Schools should and can find diverse approaches to encourage healthy eating.