Nutritionist: Boost kids' learning with diet and activity this summer

As summer break begins, many parents are focused on arranging tutoring and homework for their children, fearing they might fall behind when school resumes. However, nutritionist Xue Xiaojing emphasizes that instead of rushing children to concentrate after school starts, parents should focus on establishing "learning accelerators" through daily diet and activities.

A significant four-year study published in June 2026 by PLOS ONE in the Netherlands tracked hundreds of schoolchildren. The research integrated "healthy lunches" and "regular physical activity" into the school routine. The findings revealed that this combined approach not only improved children's math scores from the first year compared to a control group but also widened this gap over the four-year period. The standardized effect size for math performance increased from 0.30 in the first year to 0.66 in the fourth year, demonstrating a substantial and sustained positive impact of consistent diet and activity on learning.

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Instead of rushing children to concentrate after school starts, parents should focus on establishing 'learning accelerators' through daily diet and activities.

Xue explained that a child's brain doesn't improve instantly with a single "smart food." Instead, it's a cumulative effect of reducing excessive hunger, maintaining stable food quality, and engaging in regular physical activity. This foundation supports the learning environment. Lunch provides essential energy and nutrients for the afternoon, while physical activity helps children switch gears mentally and physically, combating fatigue from prolonged sitting. While reading comprehension also saw initial improvements, it was less consistent than math, as reading skills are influenced by various factors including home reading habits and parent-child interaction.

Drawing from the study's insights, Xue advises parents to implement "learning accelerators" during the summer. This includes ensuring lunches contain adequate protein (like eggs, fish, meat, or tofu) and vegetables, alongside whole grains. For picky eaters, starting with more acceptable vegetables and gradually increasing variety is key. Post-lunch activity, even just 20-30 minutes of walking, cycling, or playing, is more beneficial than immediately returning to desk work. Afternoon snacks should combine protein and carbohydrates, such as soy milk with banana or yogurt with fruit, to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Finally, fostering a daily reading habit, even for 15-20 minutes, is crucial for overall cognitive development.

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A child's brain doesn't improve instantly with a single 'smart food.' Instead, it's a cumulative effect of reducing excessive hunger, maintaining stable food quality, and engaging in regular physical activity.