Does a poor diet affect my child’s education?

Over the years there has been lots of discussion around the subject of how diet can affect your child’s education.  A leading, international independent school based in Alicante understands and promotes the importance of the right diet for your child to help support your child’s performance in school.

While the intake of food is vital for proper performance, many of the widely available and popular snacks and foods are actually hindering children’s abilities to learn. Foods that are loaded with sugars, caffeine, chemicals, and sodium are leaving children tired and unfocused.  As well as affecting your child’s learning it also has a significant impact on their behaviour and mood.

Popular meals often include white and refined breads, fried foods, sugary sweets, and puddings; all of these meal options cause an incredible drop in energy, leading to a slump in energy, focus and successful mental performance. In addition,  a regular diet of high glucose can result in damage to kidneys, eyes, blood vessels, and nerves. And while these side effects are serious, high glucose also causes irritability, lethargy, and a lack of focus. All of which will can affect your child’s performance in school.

The good news is, reports reveal that after just thirty minutes, feelings of fatigue and stress drop after a nutritious snack or meal and that providing children with an intake of healthy glucose boosts their energy and improves their focus.  

Healthy meals and snacks should consist of natural fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, such as chicken, fish, nuts, and eggs. Also, specific vitamins should be included. For example, to improve memory, incorporate foods rich in lecithin, such as peanuts, soy beans, and wheat germ. Potassium (a banana, for example) will boost energy and brain function. Avoiding processed foods and focusing on packing nutrients into your child’s diet will ultimately promote a healthier body, better behaviour and increased brain power.

So, a good diet is important for the brain as well as the body!  A well fed brain is much more likely to lead to good behaviour, a better mood and more effective learning.