Nutrition Resources and Support

Value Schools is committed to providing school environments that promote and protect children’s health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity. Value Schools believes that for students to achieve personal, academic, developmental and social success, they need positive, safe and health-promoting learning environments at every level, in every setting, throughout the school year.

Research shows that good nutrition and physical activity before, during and after the school day are strongly correlated with positive student outcomes. For example, the School Breakfast Program is associated with higher grades and standardized test scores, lower absenteeism, and better performance on cognitive tasks. Conversely, inadequate consumption of specific foods including fruits, vegetables and dairy products is associated with lower grades among students. Students also perform better academically when physically active during recess, physical activity breaks, high-quality physical education, and extracurricular activities. Finally, there is evidence that adequate hydration is associated with better cognitive performance.