Why Is Lunch So Important for your kids?

    Lunch may have even more importance for school-aged children than it does for adults. Since most kids don’t get breakfast or dinner at school and may not have any snacks until they get home, lunch is the only meal they have to power them through the day. School lunch makes up one third to one half of a child’s nutritional intake for an entire day and is essential for helping children succeed in school as well as grow and develop successfully and healthy.

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Once you understand what can happen if your child regularly skips his/her midday meal, you will have the knowledge and understanding why this midday meal is so important for your child .The calories in your child's lunch are essential for their energy levels for the afternoon ahead. If your child regularly skips lunch, she/he will not consume the protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals she/he needs to concentrate and focus until her/his afternoon snack or evening meal. Without a nutritious and well-balanced lunch, your child may feel sluggish and tired and probably will not be motivated to get much done. Your child will also feel hungry, which can cause headache, irritability and fatigue.

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Poor Nutrition
Your child's midday meal provides valuable opportunities for him/her to get a good dose of the vitamins and minerals he/she needs for proper growth and health. Without a well-balanced lunch, your child may be lacking in important nutrients like calcium, iron and vitamin C. As your child grows, their nutritional needs increase and by not eating enough food, their development may suffer. Your child should eat a lunch that includes fruits, vegetables, protein foods and low-fat milk or other dairy products to get what he/she needs.

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Educational Delays
Concentration and focus in the classroom relies on proper nutrients your child gets from their lunch. If your child does not eat lunch, they may be lacking the vitamins and minerals she/he needs for their brain to work well so that they can learn and retain classroom material.

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Physical Inactivity

If your child does not eat lunch, he/she will have little motivation or ability to engage in after-school activities likes sports and other physical pursuits. If your child wants to be active, it is essential that they consume a healthy and well-balanced lunch so their body has the capability to move. Physical inactivity can lead to unhealthy weight gain, which further gets in the way of your child's ability to engage in physical pursuits.