BRAIN FOODS for KIDS
Nicola Graimes

The brain represents just 2% of body weight but consumes a massive 30 % of the body’s total energy supply

A poor diet can be as bad for a child’s mind as it is for his or her body. Babies, toddlers and children are constantly learning new skills and the brain needs good quality nourishment to cope. A deficiency in just one crucial nutrient may have a detrimental effect on their behaviour and learning capabilities. Children are influenced by adverts for highly coloured drinks and processed food, peer pressure and by the lure of free toys offered by some manufacturers, so it’s no surprise that some parents struggle when it comes to cooking healthy meals for their children. Brain Foods for Kids makes it simple for parents to offer a balanced nutritious diet designed to help children reach their potential. Boost brain power with recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and appealing to children. Scientific research has found that breakfast is the best way to get brain cells fired up, improving memory and concentration. It provides the brain with much needed glucose, levels of which deplete overnight – a good mix of protein and carbohydrate foods is recommended.

Kids need energy-dense, nutritious foods in small but regular amounts, as they don’t have large enough stomachs to cope with big meals.

The UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2000 found that children eat less than half the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. in an average week, one in five 4–18 yr olds ate no fruit at all.

Recent studies confirm that consuming fish oils can raise IQ levels, even before birth, and they have also shown to benefit children with dyslexia and attention deficient disorder (ADD).

Dump the junk foods as they unsettle blood sugar levels and rob it of vital nutrients.

A lack of iron is associated with delays in development, mood swings, poor concentration, irritability and depression.

Dehydration can affect concentration and intellectual performance, as well as affecting the transportation of nutrients around the body.

• The latest ground-breaking advances in research into brain-boosting food
• Information on how to choose healthy nutritious ingredients
• Over 100 delicious and easy to prepare recipes, from snacks to family meals
• How to recognize foods containing ‘hidden’ additives and pesticides
• ‘Brain Box’ features explain the health-giving, mind boosting properties of each dish
• Control and avoid behavioural problems such as hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

The Author: Nicola Graimes A mother of two, Nicola has been an editor for the past 19 years and written several books, including Great Healthy Food for Vegetarian Kids, the Marks and Spencer Baby and Toddler Meal Planner, Whole Foods, Detox Cookbook, Food for Your Body, and the Healing Foods Cookbook. Nicola is particularly interested in healthy eating, organic food, and children’s diets. Her unpretentious, contemporary style of cooking is very much in touch with the requirements of modern parents. She is a firm believer in the idea that good food is the key to good physical and mental health.

Published by Carroll & Brown   June 2004   £9.99   ISBN: 1903258936