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Children who eat a nutritious breakfast and more fruit and vegetables have better mental health, a study suggests.
A poor diet is potentially as detrimental to pupils' wellbeing as being exposed to violence and rows at home, researchers warn.
They described the quality of some children's meals and snacks as 'concerning' and called for urgent action to improve them.
A failure to act is also likely to impact on children's growth, development and education, by hampering their ability to concentrate in class, they add.
A poor diet is potentially as detrimental to pupils' wellbeing as being exposed to violence and rows at home, researchers warn
The nutritionists, from the University of East Anglia, quizzed 10,853 pupils at 50 Norfolk schools on their diet and mental health.
Only 25 per cent of secondary school pupils and 28.5 per cent of primary school pupils reported eating the recommended five portions of fruit and veg a day.
Some 10 per cent and 9 per cent respectively ate none.
Further, 22.3 per cent of secondary school pupils and 10.2 per cent of primary consumed only a drink or nothing for breakfast.
The average mental health score was 46.6 out of 70 for secondary school pupils and 46 out of 60 for primary school pupils.
Secondary school pupils who ate five or more portions of fruit or
