For 13.5 million households in the United States, food insecurity affects children from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. When school-aged children do not receive a healthy amount of food for growth and development, their sleep suffers which can lead to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or insomnia. New proposed dietary guidelines are taking a closer look at what is considered balanced and healthy for children.
“The Dietary Guidelines approach of providing a framework ensures that its recommendations can ‘meet people where they are,’ from personal preferences to cultural foodways, and including budgetary considerations.”
Food Insecurity & School Lunches
In a 2022 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10.2 percent of U.S. households were food insecure while 3.8 percent had very low food security. According to the report, food-insecure households had “difficulty at some time during the year providing enough food for all their members because of a lack of resources.” The positive news found in the report found food insecurity dropped 1.4 percent from 2020 to 2021.
The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service division recently proposed updates to the school nutrition standards to provide healthy and appealing, nutritious meals to school-aged children.
According to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), nearly 100,000 public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions receive 4.9 billion lunches each year. With $14.2 billion spent prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is constantly looking for ways to provide healthy meals for children from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade.
Proposed nutrition standard provisions include changes to milk, sodium, added sugars, and whole grains. For example, by 2027-28 the proposal limits that school breakfasts and lunches account for less than 10 percent of added sugars. In 2025-26, grain-based desserts, breakfast cereals, yogurts, and flavored milk will be adjusted to lessen sugar content.
Sleepless Nights
In a study conducted by MIT and Harvard, researchers discovered that those who slept longer and enjoyed better sleep quality in the week and the month before an exam earned better grades. “Studies have shown that when children are given access to fruits, vegetables and other healthy food options their academic performance increases.”
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common, serious condition in adults but is a condition in children that can lead to learning, behavior, growth, and heart problems. According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, symptoms and signs in children suffering from OSA can include:
- snoring
- long pauses in breathing
- tossing and turning in bed
- chronic mouth breathing during sleep
- night sweats
Your family could also benefit from free lunches or breakfasts from their local school. If you suspect that your child is suffering from sleep deprivation, connect with your pediatrician if your child qualifies for a sleep study.
