Can shifting to a nutritious diet reduce aberrant behavior such as crime and violence? From the spectacular findings at Central Alternative High School in Appleton, Wisconsin, it seems it can! In 1997 staff and teachers took a stand against the violence, gun-toting, wise-cracking and truancy that become common student behavior in a most unusual way: they changed the menu at the cafeteria to fresh, nutritious food and removed all the candy and soda vending machines… and it worked! Dramatically!
Switching from the typical fast food fare including burgers, pizza and fries to old fashioned recipes with fresh fruit and vegetables saw problem behaviors in students drop rapidly. Since instituting these changes principal Luann Coenen has consistently filed a stunning figure of zero for drop-outs, expulsions, drug and weapon-carrying, and suicide. Zero. These problem behaviors simply disappeared when a wholesome diet was introduced and the worst chemical preservatives and additives were removed. In the words of one student, “Now that I can concentrate, I think its easier to get along with people”.
The benefits to students and staff are clearly tangible, but what of the increased cost? A mere $20,000 a year to turn the problem around. As Dr. Barbara Reed Stitt, who was involved in the study, puts it: “one child arrested would cost the schools more”. Shouldn’t we put our children first on this one? I’m relieved to know that such a simple solution exists out there!
You can read more about this in an ABC report, at the Feingold Association website and just googling 