Brain food for kids

Children's multivitamin
Although not a food, multivitamins serve as a nutritional safety net for a child's developing mind and body. Research clearly demonstrates that children who supplement with a daily multivitamin show improvement in their academics. Children's vitamins are now available in liquid, tablet or chewable form for kids of different ages.

Natural nut butters
Natural almond, cashew and peanut butters contain the "good" fats necessary for brain development and overall health. Avoid nut butters that are made with trans fatty acids, otherwise known as hydrogenated fats. Most schools no longer allow nut products to be used. Therefore save these butters for lunchtime at home, when natural nut butter and jam sandwiches on whole grain bread are a great, quick option for parents.

In addition to the recommended foods outlined above, it is important that your child eat three wholesome meals and one or two snacks per day. Research has shown that breakfast-eaters do better academically and have fewer behaviour problems than breakfast-skippers. Unfortunately, according to a report conducted by the Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, as many as 37 per cent of American kids routinely skip the first meal of the day. Make sure your child starts the day off right by nixing the refined and processed flour or sugar options and offering an energy-sustaining meal such as oatmeal with berries, whole grain toast with nut butter or an omega-3 egg omelette.

Wishing you a healthy and fun-filled school year!

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