Nutrition And Beyond!

Nutrition and proper child development go hand in hand and are a vital part of a child’s well-being. Children are smart, but making healthy choices for meals and snacks is a challenge for any child.

If a child has access to unhealthy foods, they chose them a majority of the time.

Being a proper role model for children and educating them will lead to a healthier now and future. So what are the connections with nutrition and children anyways?

• There is a direct positive correlation between brain development, as well as, an interrelationship between a lack of proper nutrition and a person’s inability to concentrate, improve learning capacity and to utilize self-control.

• Hormone balance in the brain can be affected by inadequate nutrition. This results of these imbalances can cause a normally outgoing and friendly person to suddenly come off as antisocial, introverted, hyper-active and even cause them to misbehave. According to David E Barret a Harvard medical school psychologist, a healthy diet has long lasting effects on a Child’s ability to interact with other children and adults.

• Iron is an important nutrient in brain tissue. The brain needs nerve impulses to function and when not enough iron is consumed, those nerve impulses become slower. Iron can be tricky because too much or too little can cause issues. During the early years of a child’s life, iron deficiency can cause changes in behavior and delayed psychomotor development. Some foods that are high in iron are dried fruits, meats, beans, and broccoli.

• Studies show that performance tests scores are improved in children who eat breakfast. Infants and toddlers may have even stronger associations when assessed.

Everyone should eat a wide variety of foods from each group and limit foods high in saturated fat, sodium, and sugar. This can be challenging to obtain for all kids, especially if you have a picky eater. If your child eats less than 20 foods and/or mealtimes are a battle, he/she would benefit from feeding therapy. Feeding therapy focuses on helping children become more comfortable with food by using a sensory and play based approach. Often times, children don’t even realize they’re interacting with foods they don’t like because the therapists take the child’s lead.

If you have any questions or concerns or believe feeding therapy may benefit your child, please call us at 651-455-0561 or email info@therapyops.com.