Food is that place where our collective efforts can have the greatest impact. One in six Americans are food insecure, including 16 million children -- almost 20 percent. Diet and nutrition is the number one cause of preventable death and disease in this country, by far. And fully a third of the kids are on track to have diabetes in their lifetime.  So they fill up on the unhealthy and cheap calories that surround them that their families can afford. By the end of the month, food stamps run out or hours get cut at work, and they don't have the money to cover the basic cost of food. 

Research shows that when kids have a consistent, nutritious breakfast at school, their chances of graduating increase by 20 percent. Increase in math and reading scores by 17.5 percent. When we give our kids the nourishment they need, we give them the chance to thrive, both in the classroom and beyond. A school that serves a nutritious breakfast to all of their kids, one with fruit and milk, one lower in sugar and salt will have kids: 

- a lower rate of obesity than the average kid  

- visit the nurse less  

- lower levels of anxiety and depression 

- better behavior  

- better attendance

- show up on time more often  

- much better health than the average school kid 

- not feeling hungry. 

Those who doesn't have a nutritious breakfast waiting?  

- lower math and reading scores  

- it's more likely will have to have repeated a grade 

- have poor cognitive function overall 

By changing the school menu, a football team (the Bears) not only won their division, they went on to win the state championship, beating their opponent (Peach County Trojans) 28-14. 

If we focus on the simple goal of properly nourishing ourselves, we could see a world that is more stable and secure; we could dramatically improve our economic productivity; we could transform our health care and we could go a long way in ensuring that the Earth can provide for generations to come. 

Resource: Sam Kass, White House Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition