Natural Needs in the Classroom

In class we discussed the necessity to address different learning preferences and the importance of differentiated learning. In this discussion, we mentioned the difficulty of measuring intelligence. Although we talked about multiple factors that need to be taken into account when measuring intelligence, we did not discuss the role that natural, biological needs play in the classroom. For example, many students in the public school systems come from low-income parents. These students may arrive at school hungry because their families cannot afford food. While some schools do have breakfast programs and all schools serve lunch, the quality and quantity of the food provided is not enough to sustain a growing teenager. Hunger can become an increasing distraction during the school day, and may result in lower scores and less effort.
Another issue regarding natural needs is the bathroom regulations that many schools have in place. For example, many students are expected to go to the bathroom during the three minutes in between class periods, but they must not be late to their next class. Students are then expected to stay in the classroom unless they have an absolute emergency. These natural functions can become extremely irritable and distracting when regulated at school. So my question is this: How do you feel about school policies regarding allowing students to go to the bathroom, and also, what are your thoughts on the food provided to students in schools?