Food Pantries’ Response to the Choosing Healthy Options Program: A Mixed-Methods Study in Georgia

Abstract

74%) of the adolescent students were between 14-16 years, while majority (78%) skips breakfast. Also majority (55%) of the students can participate for only 10 minutes out of a 40-minutes classroom lesson. The results also showed a significant relationship(r¼.456) between breakfast skipping and academic performance in key subjects (English language and Mathematics) at 0.01 level. A significant relationship also exists between breakfast consumption, classroom participation and academic performance at 0.05 level of significance. Students who do not skip breakfast participate more effectively in class and this has a positive influence on their academic performance. Conclusions and Implications: Skipping of breakfast is associated with lower nutritional status which consequently leads to low academic performance. Nutrition Education package for adolescents in Nigeria should be developed. Nutritionists can help by communicating correct nutrition information to adolescents through the state schools' board. The schools' canteen should be encouraged to provide low-cost breakfast dishes. Funding: None.