#United States #Los Angeles #school nutrition #Eat Real Certified #Dr. Michael Goran

Introduction

In a collaborative effort to examine the effects of nutritious school meals on student outcomes, Eat Real Certified has formed a research partnership with Dr. Michael Goran from the University of Southern California and Children's Hospital Los Angeles. As alarming statistics about childhood obesity and health issues continue to rise, this initiative seeks to highlight the crucial connection between nutrition and academic performance.

The Alarmingly High Dependence on School Food

Today, a significant number of students—30 million children in the U.S.—depend on school meals for over half of their daily caloric intake. What's more troubling is that roughly 67% of these calories are derived from ultraprocessed foods. In the United States, one in five young individuals is classified as obese, and in low-income neighborhoods, this statistic escalates to one in three. The health consequences for these children include increased risks of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and fatty liver disease.

The Research Focus

The partnership between Eat Real Certified and The Goran Lab aims to evaluate the impact of high-quality, minimally processed meals offered in Eat Real Certified school districts on students' academic success, particularly focusing on test scores. The research will be carried out in California, comparing Eat Real Certified districts with a similar group of schools within the state.

Nora LaTorre, the CEO of Eat Real Certified, emphasizes the importance of children's health and the correlation between nutrition and their learning capabilities. She states, "We care about children's health and are focused on the connection between nutrition and learning and development. We hope this research partnership is just the beginning of realizing the connection between nutrient-rich school foods and improved learning outcomes."

The Need for Rigorous Evaluation

Dr. Michael I Goran reinforced the importance of the study, stating, "The Eat Real program has huge potential to shift the way kids eat at schools and improve not only their future health risk but also their potential to do better at school. Rigorous evaluation of the Eat Real program is needed to demonstrate program efficacy on different outcomes."

The study is being funded by The Southern California Center for Latino Health, part of the National Institute of Minority Health Disparities (NIMHD), drawing attention to the cultural and dietary needs of varying communities.

About Eat Real

Eat Real believes that reforming school food is essential for catalyzing significant changes within food systems. Given that U.S. school cafeterias serve over seven billion meals each year, transitioning these meals to be more nutritious, flavorful, and responsibly sourced could profoundly impact children's health and curb the growing prevalence of diseases associated with high ultraprocessed food consumption.

This initiative is not just about improving taste and nutrition; it’s about fundamentally changing how food systems operate within schools and ensuring that every meal served can positively affect the future well-being of the students involved.

Conclusion

As the partnership between Eat Real and Dr. Michael Goran unfolds, the forthcoming research will not only shed light on the benefits of real food in academic settings but also aim to pave the way for healthier school environments. This initiative stands to play a pivotal role in shaping policies and practices that promote better eating habits among children, ultimately supporting a healthier generation. By committing to this study, the organizations involved hope to underline the necessity of nutritious school meals in nurturing both the minds and bodies of children across the nation.