What are the options for dinner tonight? How about a burger from McDonald's or Burger King? These choices might make for a quick and easy meal, but the consequences of a fast food diet must be taken into consideration.

As well as various health problems and diseases, a fast food diet has a negative effect on learning in children. Fast foods affect the ability of children to concentrate and absorb information, which overall decreases the amount of information they are able to learn.

A study has shown 90 percent of the American diet consists of processed foods. Many fast foods are processed foods that do not have enough nutrients needed for proper cellular function and growth.

Harmful chemicals fill these foods, such as additives, preservatives and coloring agents. Fast foods also contain free radicals, which are particles that damage cells. Our body is usually able to effectively fight these free radicals with antioxidants. Antioxidants have been shown to reverse the damage free radicals have on our cells.

An article titled "Nutrition and Learning" from learningsolutionsathome.com compared antioxidants to Pac-Mans. The antioxidants search for pac-dots, or free radicals, to destroy before they do any major harm to a cell.

When someone has a diet containing a lot of fast foods, they do not receive the antioxidants they need because those foods don't provide them. Therefore, more damage is done to the cells.

So what does all this have to do with fast food's effect on children's learning? When a child has a diet consisting mostly of fast food, their brain doesn't get the tools it needs to allow the child to learn properly. The brain needs healthy food for energy and proper nutrients for learning and memorization because if the brain doesn't receive the right balance of nutrients, it can't grow or function correctly.

"Nutrition and Learning" says that disorganization, comprehension problems, emotional difficulties, having trouble being attentive and being easily distracted are some of the consequences for children when they do not receive proper nutrition.

Children with a diet high in fast foods also have been shown to have a higher risk of developing hyperactivity and ADD (attention deficit disorder). People who don't get proper nutrition are also at a higher risk for health problems such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and many more problems. All of these consequences have a major impact on a child's ability to learn.

So what should children eat so that they will be able to effectively learn?

A child's diet should consist of lots of fruits and vegetables as well as lean proteins, nuts, and legumes. A balanced, healthy diet is an important factor in a child's ability to do well in school. Processed foods contain harmful chemicals, lack nutrients, and do not contain a sufficient amount of antioxidants. This lack of nutrition can lead to health problems such as obesity and diabetes.

High fast food diets can also cause negative psychological effects, like emotional problems, lack of attentiveness, and trouble comprehending. All of these problems make it harder for a child to learn effectively in school.

When you have a choice between a quick and easy burger and fries or a balanced meal with fruit and vegetables, choose the option that will make it easier for your child to learn.