🍎 Nutrition & Behaviour 😤
You're not you when you're hungry!
Welcome to SEMH Education!
Every week, I share insights, strategies, and tips from my experience working with children and professionals on social, emotional, and mental health in education. This week, we’re exploring a topic that’s often overlooked but can make a huge difference in how children behave and engage in the classroom: The Hidden Role of Nutrition in Classroom Behaviour.
🥗 How Does Nutrition Impact Behaviour?
We all know that what children eat affects their physical health, but did you know that it can also profoundly impact their behaviour and ability to engage with learning? Poor nutrition, particularly hunger, can significantly impact a child’s mood, concentration, and overall behaviour.
It seems obvious, doesn’t it? I know I find it really hard to focus when I’m hungry, and I’m sure we’ve all labelled someone else “hangry” before! There are even adverts about it on TV - “You’re not you when you’re hungry!” Why then, do we so often forget about this contributing factor towards children’s behaviour?
Don’t get me wrong, I know breakfast clubs exist, free-school meals (FSM) exist, and most schools are amazing at sending home food parcels during half terms and throughout the year. Problem solved then, surely? Well… not exactly.
For most children, breakfast clubs, meals at school, and adequate meals at home are absolutely enough nutrition. However, for children like Tom, who often go without meals, breakfast clubs and school dinners just don’t cut it. In my experience, children like Tom are often late to school and have therefore missed breakfast club. Their behaviour is then significantly impacted until lunchtime1.
For children with SEMH needs, the effects of poor nutrition can be even more pronounced. A child who is already feeling anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed may find that hunger exacerbates those feelings, making it even harder for them to regulate their behaviour or engage in the learning process.
🍽️ What Can We Do About It?
As educators and support staff, we have a vital role to play in supporting children’s nutrition and, by extension, their behaviour and learning. Here are a few simple, actionable strategies to implement in your classroom:
1. Morning Snack Stations 🍏
A quick and easy way to ensure that children start the day with the energy they need is by offering a morning snack station. Consider setting up a table with different snack options, such as fruits, biscuits, bagels, snack bars, etc. Allow children to grab a snack before or during the first part of the school day. This small act can help boost focus and calmness, setting a positive tone for the day. An added side effect of this is that it keeps the children quiet whilst they’re eating!
2. Create a “Brain Food” Corner 🧠
I would transition the morning snack station into a food cupboard or corner once the children get used to the rules around it! It works the same as a morning snack station, but it is accessible throughout the day. Keep it stocked with easy-to-grab options like healthy snack bars, apples, oranges, etc! Model how to use it to the children by accessing it yourself! It really helps if you verbalise the reasons you’re using it. E.G. “Oh, I feel a bit tired and annoyed, I’m going to get something from the food cupboard.” or “I’m feeling a bit sick and I’m not sure why, I’m just going to get a snack.”
3. Incorporate Nutrition Education
Teaching children about the connection between food and brain function can also be powerful. I have a natural bias towards this one, as I also have a degree in sports. During PE lessons, I would always try to incorporate something about nutrition. You can make it fun too! By showing the children how many calories a professional athlete needs to eat and working out how many of X food item that would mean. If you have a morning activity, you could also try to put a nutrition question in there! Once a week is plenty.
4. Consider Food and Mood in Behaviour Plans 📝
If a child’s behaviour is consistently challenging, consider including nutrition as part of their individual behaviour plan. If they’re having difficulties concentrating or regulating their emotions, a simple change in diet, such as a protein-rich snack or a more balanced meal, could make a significant difference in their behaviour and engagement.
I had a child who would come in every morning, refuse to work, become verbally and physically aggressive towards staff and peers and be sent home early. This was a consistent pattern for months. We tried everything: soft-starts, different entrances, activity in a morning, therapeutic activities, you name it, we tried it. Then one day, I’d made too many bagels and left them on his table. Halfway through his first one, he asked for a cup of tea. After 2 bagels and a cup of tea, he managed to stay until 1.30 pm, which was unheard of! From then on, this child’s behaviour plan had a nutritional focus.
Have you ever used food in a behaviour plan? what did you do?
5. Work with Local Food Banks 🛒
For families struggling with food insecurity, school communities can offer support by partnering with local food banks or charities. You could set up a system for discreetly providing children with snacks or meals during the day. If your school doesn't already work with a food bank, consider reaching out to local organisations to explore how you can collaborate. Your local supermarket will be more than happy to help I’m sure!
A tip for discrete food parcels by the way, fill a box with food and wrap it! It could be birthday paper, Christmas paper or just generic parcel paper. Families that get public transport or children who use taxis can be really conscious of carrying an obvious food parcel. Speak with the family and ask if this is something they’d like the school to do.
🔬 The Science 📝
Don’t just listen to me, though! There is loads of research out there about this!
Research shows that what we eat directly impacts our mood and cognitive function2. A balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrients helps stabilize blood sugar levels, keeping energy levels steady and improving focus3. On the other hand, a diet high in refined sugars and low in essential nutrients can lead to mood swings, irritability, and trouble concentrating4.
Studies have found that children who have consistent access to nutritious food are more likely to demonstrate improved behaviour, better engagement in school, and higher academic performance5. Nutrition isn’t just about physical health; it’s foundational to emotional well-being and classroom success.
🫗 Additional Tips
Ensure Consistent Meals: Encourage families to ensure that their children have access to breakfast and lunch every day, whether through free school meals, breakfast clubs, or home arrangements.
Limit Sugary Snacks: While snacks are essential, try to avoid giving children sugary or highly processed foods, as they can cause energy crashes and mood swings.
Regular Hydration Breaks: Encourage children to drink water throughout the day, as dehydration can also affect focus and behaviour.
🎯 Conclusion
Nutrition can be often overlooked but is crucial to child behaviour and engagement. By providing consistent, healthy options and understanding the role of nutrition in emotional regulation, we can create a more supportive and focused learning environment for all children.
Is nutrition part of your classroom routine? What strategies have you found effective in supporting children's dietary needs? Share your tips, or let me know if you plan to try any of these suggestions!
Did You Miss These?
Tips on how to engage all parents!
There are different behaviour management techniques out there! Take a look!
How to safely and successfully de-escalate a child in crisis.
Eating Behaviours and Dietary Intake in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review
This systematic review analysed various eating behaviors and their effects on dietary intake among children and adolescents. The findings suggest that regular meal patterns, including breakfast consumption, are associated with better nutrient profiles and cognitive outcomes. Skipping meals, particularly breakfast, was linked to reduced attention spans and academic performance.
Timing of energy intake and BMI in children: differential impacts by age and sex.
Overview: This study investigated how the timing of energy intake influences body mass index (BMI) and cognitive functions in children. Results indicated that children consuming a higher proportion of their daily energy intake in the evening had increased BMI and reported difficulties in concentration during school hours. The study emphasizes the importance of distributing energy intake evenly throughout the day to support both physical health and cognitive performance.
Overview: This study examined the impact of dietary patterns on cognitive performance in primary school children. The researchers found that balanced nutrition, particularly adequate intake of fruits, vegetables, and proteins, was positively associated with improved attention and memory. Conversely, diets high in processed foods and sugars were linked to diminished cognitive abilities.
The Unequal Impact of Food Insecurity on Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes Among 5-Year-Old Urban Children
Overview: This study analyzed data from 2,046 five-year-old urban children to assess how food insecurity affects cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Findings revealed that food insecurity is significantly associated with increased externalizing (aggressive) and internalizing (emotional) behavior problems, especially among children already exhibiting higher levels of these issues. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing food insecurity to mitigate behavioral problems in young children.
Poverty, food insecurity, and the behavior for childhood internalizing and externalizing disorders
Overview: This research investigated the associations between poverty, food insecurity, and behavioral problems in children aged 4 to 16 years. The study found that children from persistently food-insecure households were more likely to exhibit internalizing (emotional) and externalizing (behavioral) problems compared to those from food-secure homes. The results suggest that food insecurity is a significant risk factor for the development of behavioral disorders in children.