It is crucial to encourage healthy eating habits in your kids right from the beginning. The eating habits that your child picks up in the early stages of life can determine their lifestyle into adulthood. This is why it’s important to introduce the right foods to your children from a very young age.
How do your child's food choices affect their behaviour, learning and focus?
As per the Society for Neuroscience reports, multiple studies have revealed that diets with high levels of saturated fats negatively affect learning speed and retention power. If your kid loads up on junk like fries, burgers and desserts all the time, their attention span and their ability to focus diminish significantly. Normally after a healthy meal, there is a slight glucose spike in the body that gives energy to the body. But when your child has foods with high glucose content, they will experience a "post-food crash". This leads to fatigue, poor mental performance, irritability and lack of focus. A diet lacking the required nutrients daily can lead to sleep problems, behavioural problems and even stunted emotional and psychological development. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to impulsive behaviour, aggression, etc. B complex deficiencies will lead to symptoms of anxiety, mild depression and irritability in your child. You can read this blog: Wholesome Meals – Eating Healthy Is Never A Waste Of Time Several studies also show the link between certain foods and worsening symptoms of ADHD. For instance, children with ADHD and hyperactivity are allergic to dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. Food dyes found in processed foods, including artificial juice, cereal, candy and gluten-rich food negatively impact children diagnosed with ADHD. Eating wholesome, nutritious food aids the overall growth and development of your child. But it is easier said than done. As a parent, you need to put in the effort to ensure that your child is eating right.Here are some tips you can follow:
- Roast your veggies and add some zing
- Make it colourful and presentable
- Add in a bit of goodness
- Teach them the healthy way to snack