8 Superfoods to Boost Your Child’s Brain Development
If you’re looking for a way to give your child an advantage when it comes to schooling and mental development, consider this: food for thought. Not just any food will do when it comes to brain power, however. These eight foods are proven superfoods when it comes to memory, function, and performance of the brain.
1. Eggs
Protein, Omega 3’s, and zinc, which acts as an antioxidant and detoxes the brain, are all provided in eggs. Scrambled, boiled, or sunny-side up, every egg’s a winner where the brain is concerned.
2. Spinach
If your kids aren’t into salads, it’s easy to slip this superfood into a smoothie or a casserole – or try this tasty quiche from Remodelaholic. Spinach is full of flavonoids, which are great “protectors” of the brain.
3. Water
Okay, it’s not exactly a “food”, but water is essential to cognitive performance and nerve function. Keeping kids hydrated helps them avoid that rundown feeling that can sometimes hit during the day.
4. Fortified cereals
A good source of vitamin B12, fortified cereals can actually help a child’s memory. Plus, a low-sugar cereal can be more than just a healthy breakfast – it’s great for snacking too.
5. Berries
The evidence that various berries aid in the retention and improvement of short-term memory is growing. Blueberries and strawberries are easy finger foods for little hands.
6. Nuts and seeds
Vitamin E and Omega 3’s are just two of the reasons you should add these natural snacks to your child’s diet. Raw is best, but it never hurts to try something new, like this recipe from Pixels and Crumbs.
7. Oatmeal
Oatmeal contains good carbohydrates that very slowly release glucose, which is a major nutrient for brain function. The slow-release ensures that this boost is a lasting one and helps your kids stay focused longer.
8. Fish
Nothing beats the omega 3’s and essential fatty acids found in a good bit of wild salmon. If your child is hesitant to eat it, try a couple of new recipes that include things he/she does enjoy. A fish taco with fruit salsa, baked homemade “fishsticks” or an old favorite like a tuna (or swap canned tuna for canned salmon) sandwich are great places to start.
Kayla Lilly is a photographer, writer, wife, and mama making a house a home in eastern Idaho. She met her mister while working at an amusement park and married him a year later after deciding there was no way to live without him. The amusement has continued as they’ve added three kids and a passel of pets to their lives while finishing college and starting a photography business. Drawing inspiration from the whirlwinds of marriage, parenthood, and the media, Kayla blogs at www.utterlyinexperienced.blogspot.com, and spends the rest of her time chasing chickens, organizing junk drawers, diapering toddlers, and photographing everyone willing to step in front of her lens.
Resources:
https://www.naturalnews.com/026273_spinach_cancer_brain.html
https://www.prevention.com/food/food-remedies/best-foods-kids-brains
https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/eat-smart-healthier-brain
https://www.chron.com/life/food/article/Brain-foods-help-send-kids-to-the-he-2138005.php
https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/11-best-foods-your-brain
https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200307/flavonoids-antioxidants-help-the-mind
