| Parents can help their child make the grade by | | | | instead of sugar or dried fruit. |
| coupling brain healthy supplements, a good | | | | - Forget the fruit drinks, fruit punch and soft |
| multi-vitamin and brain-smart foods. Properly | | | | drinks and pack water and milk instead. |
| nourishing the brain will ultimately set the child up | | | | Pick from the following mix and match food list |
| for success in the classroom by improving focus | | | | for a healthy lunch. Ideally you will choose one |
| and concentration, managing behavioral problems | | | | fruit, one vegetable, one snack, a sandwich or |
| and keeping them healthy. | | | | non-sandwich food and a beverage. |
| The daily diet starting with a solid breakfast is | | | | Vegetables: Cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, |
| highly important to the school success equation. A | | | | carrot sticks, celery sticks, green salad. |
| Harvard University study and a Massachusetts | | | | Fruits: Apples, bananas, blueberries, cherries, |
| General Hospital study both showed that children | | | | grapes, nectarines, orange sections, peaches, |
| who regularly ate breakfast perform better on | | | | pears, pineapple, strawberries. |
| standardized test scores, have better behavior, | | | | Dips for fruits, vegetables, sandwiches and |
| and are less hyperactive than children who skip | | | | crackers: Almond or apple butter, apple butter, |
| breakfast. | | | | mashed banana, low-fat cream cheese or brie |
| Sugary breakfast cereals or white-flour pancakes | | | | cheese, honey, hummus, fruit jam, peanut butter. |
| with syrup will leave your child hungry and tired | | | | Snacks: Nuts, dried cranberries, cheese slices or |
| half way through the morning. A solid | | | | sticks, cottage cheese with fruit, hard-boiled egg, |
| protein-based breakfast is always a better | | | | dried fruit, granola, popcorn, pretzels, trail mix, |
| alternative to highly refined carbohydrates. Eggs, | | | | wheat crackers, vanilla yogurt with fruit. |
| whole grain toast and a piece of fruit is one | | | | Beverages: Bottled water, skim or 1% milk. If you |
| example of a healthy start to the day that will | | | | do choose to pack a juice box on occasion, make |
| keep your child satisfied until lunch time. The | | | | sure the juice is 100 percent fruit juice. |
| protein in the egg and lower-starch whole grain | | | | Sandwich Fillings: Chicken, chicken salad, egg salad, |
| bread and fruit will support the physical needs | | | | organic peanut butter and all-fruit jelly, roast beef, |
| while also supporting brain function. | | | | chunk light tuna fish, tuna salad, turkey, turkey |
| Now on to lunch... The typical school lunch of pizza, | | | | salad. |
| french fries and canned fruits and vegetables are | | | | Sandwich Add-ons: Sliced apples, shredded |
| poor quality food choices. However, the | | | | carrots, cheese, sliced cucumber, lettuce, spinach |
| parent-packed "cold lunches" can also fail the | | | | leaves, sprouts. |
| grade. According to one study, only 25 percent of | | | | You have healthy breakfast and lunch ideas but |
| parent-packed cold lunches meet minimum dietary | | | | let's face it, kids can be picky. If you have a |
| standards. Additionally, most parent-packed | | | | finicky eater, supplements to provide the nutrients |
| lunches are filled with saturated fats, sugar and | | | | not received in the daily diet are an absolute must. |
| salt. Here are a number of healthy lunch tips to | | | | There are a number of quality Attention Deficit |
| keep your child's mind sharp and body fueled | | | | supplements available that will support the brain |
| throughout the school day. | | | | while also reducing the symptoms of ADD and |
| - Use whole wheat bread or multi-grain bread | | | | ADHD. When looking for a quality ADD |
| instead of white bread. | | | | supplement, look for one that provides a full |
| - Bypass processed lunch meats. Instead, use | | | | complex of amino acids and fatty acids. |
| meat from the pervious night's dinner. For | | | | Numerous studies show that ADHD children have |
| instance, chop up leftover chicken to make a | | | | lower levels of essential fatty acids. Studies also |
| chicken salad sandwich. | | | | show that lower levels of essential fatty acids can |
| - Add diced fruits or vegetables with a small | | | | result in problems with learning, behavior, temper, |
| container of healthy dipping sauces like low-fat | | | | sleep, and immune function. |
| yogurt, sour cream or hummus. | | | | Amino acids quite literally feed the brain. Amino |
| - Yogurt with active live bacterial cultures | | | | acids, the building blocks of protein, promote the |
| (probiotics) provides a good source of protein and | | | | production of various neurotransmitters and |
| calcium. | | | | enzymes needed for communication between |
| - Instead of snack cakes or other sugary | | | | brain cells and a smooth transition from thought |
| desserts, pack canned fruit packed in water | | | | to disciplined action. |