Quiz – Brain Food

Parents strive to help their children succeed in school—buying the supplies they need, making sure their teachers are engaged, and assisting with homework and challenging projects. One aspect they must not forget is the relationship between nutrition and school performance. A healthy body leads to healthy mind, and the fuel for both comes from smart choices made at mealtime. Take our quiz to learn more:


1. Sugary snacks are best for maintaining energy throughout the day.

A. True
B. False

 
2. The MyPlate food guide developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that fruits and vegetables make up ____ of your plate at each meal.
 
A. One-third
B. Two-thirds
C. One-half
D. All
 
 
3. Unhealthy fats such as trans fats and saturated fats can be found in all of the following EXCEPT:
 
A. Foods containing partially hydrogenated oil
B. Commercial baked goods
C. Fried foods
D. Nuts and nut butters
 
 
4. Adequate protein can help people feel full longer, so that they are not distracted by thoughts of their next snack or mealtime.
 
A. True
B. False
 
 
5. The nutrient that is most likely to be deficient in a child’s diet is ____.
  
A. Vitamin A
B. Calcium
C. Vitamin C
D. Iron
E. All of the above
 

Answers:

1. B. False. Sugar will provide a bolt of energy but it is soon followed by a crash of fatigue. Sugar snacks also lack vitamins and minerals, providing empty calories that can lead to weight gain. 
 
2. C. One-half. The other major food groups in the meal should be proteins, diary, and grains. Half of the grains should be whole grains. 
 
3. D. Nuts and nut butters. These are healthy fats which are essential to the brain, but the others listed above contain fats that can clog the circulatory system, limiting the brain’s oxygen supply.
 
4. A. True. Protein sources include lean meat, beans, nuts, and low-fat dairy products.
 
5. E. All of the above. Other nutrients that parents need to make sure their children are receiving are folic acid and vitamin B6. Note that the American Dietetic Association and the American Medical Association both recommend that normal, healthy children receive all their nutrients from foods rather than vitamin supplements.
 
 
 
Sources: This quiz was developed with the assistance of Farrah Solley, RD, LD, Clinical Dietitian at St. Joseph’s/Candler. Additional information was acquired from The Health Library.