As a seasoned educator, I have realized that a healthy diet boosts performance in the classroom and in other areas of educational development. In other words, what children eat can have a direct correlation to how they learn. From an early age, many are given sugary beverages, salty snacks, and foods high in calories. These irregular habits lay a poor foundation and eventually spill over into school performance. Some students arrive in class overly energetic from the unhealthy foods they consume, while others are drowsy or even sick from overconsumption. Sometimes the ways our children react are not simply “behavioral issues” but rather a response to what they eat and when it is eaten.
What can we do? Balanced meals are integral. A diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and water improves energy, memory, and classroom participation. Ensuring our children understand this balance is key. There is no way a child should be starting the day with fried chicken and soda, nor should they be consuming multiple sugary beverages before the school day ends.
There is more to this than meets the eye. Systemic and socioeconomic challenges play a major role in shaping children’s diets. If we want to change this narrative, we must look at the environments where children spend most of their time. Schools play a critical part in our children’s daily lives. Here in Antigua and Barbuda, the School Meals Program has been instrumental in feeding students. Yet, there are challenges. Many students opt out of the program, purchasing instead from school canteens or vendors. Too often, the cheapest and fastest options are also the riskiest, fueling long-term problems like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.
We also need to recognize that many children do not see a dentist, eye doctor, or pediatrician for regular checkups. This means that conditions affecting vision, oral health, or chronic illness risks often go unnoticed and directly impact how children perform and behave in school. Good nutrition can protect against many risks, but without routine care and awareness of family health, we leave our children vulnerable.
Schools, can lead by providing healthier options through a structured School Nutrition Plan. Such a plan could outline clear nutrition policies promoting fruit and veggie days, restricting the sale of sodas, fried foods, and sweets at breakfast and encouraging vendors not to sell certain items on specific days of the week as the availability already poses direct risk to students with preexisting Non-Communicable Diseases.
This is not just the responsibility of schools. A holistic approach is needed that involves partnerships with government agencies, PTAs, student councils and NGOs. If we truly want to see healthier, more focused, and better-performing students, we must start with what goes on their plates. Changing the way our children eat and care for their bodies is not just about food — it is about safeguarding their future to build stronger, healthier generations.
*The article was first published in the Antigua Observer on January 12th 2026.