Students Highlight Power of Nutritious Breakfasts

As new federal dietary guidelines prompt changes to school breakfasts nationwide, three Cedarville University nursing students’ research indicates how high-protein morning meals can improve academic performance and overall health in children.

New Federal Dietary Guidelines Reshape School Breakfast Programs

The U.S. federal government released updated dietary guidelines on January 7, 2026, replacing the 2011 MyPlate model. The new structure underscores the importance of “real foods” like full-fat milk and yogurt, butter and red meat. The updated food pyramid is expected to bring sweeping changes to school meals across the nation, including the federally funded School Breakfast Program — an area that captured the attention of three Cedarville students.

Cedarville Nursing Students Research Impact of Nutritious Breakfasts

Driven by a shared interest in pediatric health, the students — Clay Dyer, a junior from Medina, Ohio, Brady Gilbert, a junior from Audubon, New Jersey, and Matthew Schelebo, a junior from Bakersfield, California — used their research project as a platform to promote nutritious school breakfasts. Their work examined the connection between high-protein, well-balanced morning meals and academic performance in K-8 students, a timely focus as schools prepare to adapt to new nutrition standards.

According to data from the USDA, approximately 15 million children participate in the School Breakfast Program each day, compared to nearly 30 million who receive school lunches. Students who participate in the breakfast program tend to demonstrate higher levels of alertness and improved mood.

Many people don’t realize how serious this issue is,” said Dyer. “It affects cognitive development, muscles, bones and more. Nutrition is so important for kids as they develop.”

Research Highlights Link Between Nutrition and Academic Performance

During their project, the students were supported by Cedarville faculty, university librarians and local health professionals. As part of their research, they interviewed a school nurse in Dayton, Ohio, who reported that students who received breakfast at school are less likely to complain about stomach aches or other ailments.

“The project taught me that healthcare is a team effort,” said Dyer. “In my future career, I’ll work alongside nurses, doctors and other professionals. God created us for community.”

The project not only shaped his interactions with other health care workers but also broadened his perspective as a future nurse, particularly in understanding how nutrition, education and health intersect.

“It gave me greater empathy and a broader nursing perspective,” said Dyer. “I’ll interact with patients from many backgrounds, and this helped shape how I see them. Additionally, I see how school and community nurses have a unique voice with school boards and communities.”

Improving Student Health and Learning Through School Nutrition

Together, nurses, teachers and schools can promote engagement in the classroom to help students thrive long-term, regardless of socioeconomic status. For Dyer and his research partners, that is the ultimate goal.

“If you remove hunger, students can focus on learning,” said Dyer.

About Cedarville University

Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.