Experts: Well-nourished children learn better, earn more

A well-nourished child is more likely to learn better, excel in school and earn more over a lifetime, underscoring the need to put nutrition at the center of education and human capital policies, experts said at the 2026 Nutrition Forum in Makati.

Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, National Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology and Philippine Regulation Commission Board Member for Nutrition and Dietetics, said nutrition plays a critical role in cognitive development and long-term economic outcomes.

“A well-nourished child is more likely to secure a better education, generally excel, and earn up to 46% more over their lifetime. Conversely, the cost of inaction is staggering, with 250 million children under the age of five currently at risk of failing to reach their full developmental potential, ultimately facing up to a 25% reduction in their average earning potential,” she said.

At the forum organized by the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP), the link between nutrition and learning was also highlighted by the Department of Education, which is prioritizing school feeding for younger learners.

DepEd Director IV Miguel Angelo Mantaring said around 1.5 million kindergarten pupils and 1.8 million Grade 1 students are expected to benefit from school feeding programs this school year.

“Starting this school year, around 1.5 million kindergarten and 1.8 million grade 1 students will benefit from school feeding programs, as they are prioritized because this is where children establish their foundational competencies. This investment focus links school meals directly to learning outcomes.”

Mantaring said the scale of the program requires closer coordination between national agencies and local governments.

“However, feeding millions of children requires a multi-level governance framework that integrates national policy with localized execution, allowing local government units to bring vital infrastructure, personnel, and local food systems closer to the learners,” he added.

World Bank Philippines Senior Nutrition Advisor Dr. Cecilia Acuin said nutrition investment can also help address poverty and strengthen human capital.

“Apart from focusing on the individual, nutrition is important in building stronger families and communities, holding the potential to break the poverty cycle and empower them.”

“Furthermore, strategic nutritional investment provides the opportunity to maximize the country’s demographic transition in order to maximize our human capital potential,” Acuin added.

The discussions were held during the ECCP Food and Beverage Committee’s 2026 Nutrition Forum on Sept. 16, which brought together government, industry, academe and development organizations to examine how nutrition science can translate into better education and development outcomes.