Children Learn Better with a Healthy Diet
Numerous studies support that nutrition plays a large role in your child’s cognitive, physical and emotional development. Not only can certain foods promote better overall mental and physical development but too much of others can be very detrimental, having a negative effect on mood and learning, and leading to obesity.
August is the perfect time to take a good look at your child’s diet and make changes now that lead to better health and development, and hopefully a better start to this school year regardless if it is in-person or virtual. For instance, did you know that the average child under 12 usually consumes about 49 pounds of sugar each year? That’s a lot of sugar! We know that too much sugar affects proteins needed for optimal brain development, leads to diabetes and can accentuate mood disorders.
Four easy steps to create a better diet:
Eat as much fresh and local foods as possible.
Reduce or eliminate your child’s consumption of sugar and artificial sweeteners, heavily processed dairy products, refined grains, processed and fast foods.
Encourage “brain foods” like whole grains, dark leafy greens, berries, fish, eggs, and water.
Encourage your kids to help with meal planning, preparation, and try to have as many family meals as possible.
Resources to help you make healthier snacks and meals:
Quality Care for Children helps connect Georgia’s child care providers and families to locally grown food to help children grow better eating habits through its participation in Georgia Farm to Early Care and Education activities, which you can learn more about here. Be sure to download the 2020-21 Harvest of the Month calendar and follow along as we highlight a different vegetable or fruit each month. You will also find new recipes, activities and book suggestions each month, such as this month’s “Icy Watermelon” by author Mary Sue Galindo.
“Nutrition for kids: Guidelines for a healthy diet” from the Mayo Clinic provides an overview on the amounts and specifics nutrients needed for children at different ages.
Public School Review shares information including how schools are attempting to make their school meals more nutritious and how families can support better meals and snacks at home in “How diet and nutrition impact a child’s learning ability.”
Eating Well magazine has a list of budget-friendly, healthy meals for the family here.
Resources to help you shop local:
Georgia Grown will help you find fresh fruits, vegetables and other items locally.
Georgia Fresh for Less doubles your SNAP/EBT dollars at participating local farmers markets.
Apply for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program to receive a one-time allotment of $256.50 in total P-EBT per child for families who would normally receive free or reduced school lunch. Families who already receive SNAP do not need to apply as it will automatically be loaded on to the EBT card.
