Any parent wants their child to grow up healthy and happy, but so much of the advice out there is focused very narrowly when it comes to a kid’s diet. We all know pretty well what to feed kids from a physical health standpoint; what will keep them at a healthy weight, what will allow them to have energy, and so on. We often don’t hear so much about feeding your children the right things for brain health. There are various reasons for this, not least the fact that we associate brain health with later stages in life. But the truth is, our brains are always developing, and never more so than in the early years, so it’s worth considering what your child could gain from a diet that is brain-healthy.
We’ll get to the science bit in a moment. For now, we’ll simply acknowledge that healthy toddler snacks are widely available for parents who want their kids to have the best start in life, and that you can help this by encouraging a healthy diet at home. This will allow your young ones to grow up with the best chances to develop in mind and body, and to deal with all the demands that are involved in growing from toddler, to infant, to adolescent. Think of it as giving them all the building blocks they’ll need to become happy and healthy people for decades to come.
How does food boost brain health?
There are numerous different types of food which are beneficial for any brain at any time, but naturally will have the best impact on a growing brain. At a young age – indeed, any age below 25 – your brain is in a state that is known as “neuroplasticity”, which means that it is still growing and changing towards its final form. If you eat the right things and do the right exercises to boost your brain, it will pay off all the more in the first 25 years of your life. So feeding your children, from toddler to teen, the right kinds of food gives a better chance of the best outcomes from education and everyday life.
What kinds of food work well for children’s brain health?
It’s not so much about the foods they eat as the nutrients in those foods. They – and you – can benefit from foods that are rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein. Smoothies can be a good way to get a lot of these nutrients, as they can combine antioxidant-rich berries and leafy greens, along with chia seeds that provide omega-3. Apricots and blackberries are some of the best smoothies for protein, but the best sources of this nutrient are homemade hummus, grilled salmon and meatballs – with turkey a particularly good source.
How do you get kids to eat this stuff?
It’s a fair question. Not every kid will be thrilled to eat grilled salmon, mashed avocado or curly kale; these are all very much acquired tastes and can be off-putting to a younger palate. The best advice we can give is to combine them with a food your little one does like; mashing up salmon in mashed potatoes can go very well, as can serving avocado as a dip for veggies that they enjoy or for sweet potato fries. If your child enjoys lasagne, prepping a veggie version that includes avocado and spinach, or a dish like moussaka which can contain both the meat and veg as recommended by nutritionists, is often a smart move.
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