Breakfast and School-Related Outcomes in Children and Adolescents in the US: A Literature Review and its Implications for School Nutrition Policy.

Purpose Of Review: To identify and review the latest research on the connections between breakfast and school-related outcomes in children and adolescents in the US, and to explore the implications of this research on US school nutrition policy, particularly as it applies to students experiencing or at risk for food insecurity.

Recent Findings: Although school personnel, parents, and students have positive attitudes about breakfast and its benefits for learning, recent research finds mixed evidence for the role of breakfast in improving objectively measured grades and test scores. Few recent studies examined behavioral outcomes, limiting the ability to draw clear conclusions about breakfast and school behavior.

Severity of Household Food Insecurity Is Positively Associated with Mental Disorders among Children and Adolescents in the United States.

Background: Household food insecurity and mental disorders are both prevalent conditions among children and adolescents (i.e., youth) in the United States.

Are school employees role models of healthful eating? Dietary intake results from the ACTION worksite wellness trial.

Background: Little is known about the dietary intake of school employees, a key target group for improving school nutrition.

Objective: To investigate selected dietary variables and weight status among elementary school personnel.

Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive study.

The influence of weekday eating patterns on energy intake and BMI among female elementary school personnel.

Many health practitioners recommend eating small, frequent meals for weight loss, yet the relationship of eating patterns, such as eating occasion frequency (EOF), to energy intake and body weight is controversial. Broad-based efforts to promote worksite wellness programs increase the importance of this issue, as many work environments inherently restrict eating patterns. The eating patterns of school personnel are understudied, but are of particular interest, not only because they have limited eating opportunities during the day but also because their diet and weight outcomes are likely to influence behaviors of a much larger population.