Feeding your child with the right foods can help them perform better in school. Certain foods, known as brain foods, can help students achieve better results but, more often than not, you find yourself at a loss as to the correct meal plan to make for your kids.

The good news is that you don't need a degree in nutrition to raise healthy kids. There are important food groups that must be present in every meal. These include:

Glucose: The brain draws nearly all its energy from glucose. Like a car in need of gas, if you don't pump it full of fats and natural sugars (which are converted to glucose) it doesn't run.

Fatty Acids: Such as omega-3 and omega-6. These help strengthen the synapses in the brain related to memory.

Amino Acids: These are protein-rich foods which are essential for keeping the brain sharp.

Antioxidants: Which you get from teas, vegetables and dark skin fruits help regulate the oxidative stress that destroys brain cells. The stress is caused when your body is converting glucose to energy and extra oxygen is created. Antioxidants block them so your brain doesn't have to work as hard.

Knowing the important food groups isn't enough, though. Following some basic guidelines can help you encourage your kids to eat right and maintain a healthy weight. Here are some feeding guidelines to observe:

1. You, the parent, are in control. You decide which foods to buy and when to serve them. Though kids will agitate for junk food, adults should be in charge when deciding which foods are regularly stocked in the house. Kids won't go hungry. They'll eat what's available in the cupboard and fridge at home. If their favourite snack isn't all that nutritious, you can still buy it once in a while so they don't feel deprived.

2. Do not force them to continue. Let kids stop eating when they feel they've had enough. Lots of parents grew up big forced to finish the last grain on the plate, but that approach doesn't help kids listen to their own bodies when they feel full. When kids notice and respond to feelings of fullness, they're less likely to overeat. Note that overeating leads to obesity and sluggishness.

3. Drink 'lives' matter. Soda and other carbonated drinks come with a lot of calories and get in the way of good nutrition. Water and milk are the best drinks for kids. This is not to say you shouldn't treat them to soda once in a while.

4. Practice what you preach. Be a role model and eat healthy yourself. When trying to teach good eating habits, try to set the best example possible. Choose nutritious snacks, eat at the table, and don't skip meals.

5. Limit TV and computer time. A sedentary lifestyle leads to food cravings and overeating. When you limit time spent on the tv and computer and introduce physical activities, you'll avoid mindless snacking and encourage activity. When TV and computer time are limited, they'll find more active things to do. And limiting "screen time" means you'll have more time to be active together.

Source: Exercise Book, the BlueBic blog.

---

BlueBic is the best school management system for nursery, primary and secondary schools, with features like Report Card Processing, Fees Management, Attendance, Assignment, Online Portal, etc.
Request a trial today.