BEREA, Ohio — A new national survey is creating some concern among parents. It shows 20 percent of schools give students 20 minutes or less to eat their lunch in the cafeteria. The School Nutrition Association says administrators are under intense pressure to increase instruction time and boost standardized test scores and that the lunch period is often the first place they look to steal time. However, some districts in Northeast Ohio are leaving lunchtime alone.
"I've been hearing there are shorter lunch periods and I do see a concern with that," Briana Cates said.
Cates oversees the nutrition program in all six Berea City School District buildings.
"We know kids have to feed their minds for academic performance," Cates said.
While a growing number of boys and girls are getting less than 20 minutes to grab their food, eat what's on their plates and clean up, elementary and middle school students in BCSD get a full 30 minutes.
"We want to make sure that they don't feel stressful not having enough time to eat," Cates said.
Cates said cutting mealtime short can create a handful of issues.
"It's an extension of the classroom. It would be a concern if I were a parent by all means," Cates said.
The most obvious issue is that an empty stomach creates distractions in the classroom.
"If a kid's hungry they're not going to learn as well, they're not going to academically perform well, so we need to make that an importance," Cates said.
Another issue brought on by a rushed lunch is children chewing too quickly to finish in time, which can lead to harmful eating habits.
"It's not hitting your brain fast enough, it's not cueing to your stomach," Cates said.
To combat this issue, The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends students have at least 20 minutes of seated time.
The suggested guidance from the Ohio Department of Education is that students should get at least 30 minutes and be able to get their food in fewer than eight minutes.
"It's so crucial, especially at a young age. I'm very proud to say that Berea City School District gives them adequate amount of time to eat," Cates said.
