The Effect of Diet on Learning of Junior High School Students in Mashhad, North-east of Iran

Introduction Since nutrition, especially in childhood and adolescence is an important effect on intelligence and learning, so that malnutrition delayed to later periods of life, and these people during the course of training, will have many problems, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of nutrition on student learning. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 girls student. The sample size were all students that studying in a boarding school in 5 district of Mashhad-Iran. The valid and reliable questionnaire, consisted of 19 questions and specialized feeding habits of the students. Data were analyzed with SPSS-13 software. Results Out of the total, 90 students were included in the present study. Overall, 48.9 % and 51.1% of students were second and third of Junior High School respectively. Of these, 24.4%, their average were between 15-13; 65.6% were 15-18 and also 10% were between 18-20 respectively. 67.8% of students said that they love so much sweet meat and 61.1% of students used pickles and salt with food, in a large extent. Results showed that 38.8% of students had used too much salt in food, and on the other hand, 27.8% of students had used salt moderate. Results showed that students who had a lower average scores, the consumption of fish, red and white meat, green and orange vegetables and dairy products were lower than the other students (P < 0.05). Conclusion Students who have had better nutritional behavior (consumption of healthy breakfast, fruits and vegetables and dairy products were more than the other students) had higher average scores than other students.