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Tuning In
15 Strategies for Focusing Children's Energy
By Cara J. Stevens
5. Skip the soda. Soft drinks are not a good choice because they contain refined sugar and additives and they replace foods that provide vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Offer children a glass of milk, which is rich in calcium and vitamins, or water.
6. Eat breakfast. Studies have shown that kids who skip breakfast show a decrease in test scores and basic cognitive functions.
7. Snack right. "Fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy are the best snacks you can give your kids," says Nancy Copperman, a registered dietitian at the Schneider Children's Hospital on Long Island, N.Y. "Cookies, crackers and other snacks should have less than 2 grams of saturated fat, less than 10 grams of sugars and 2 or more grams of fiber per listed serving size on the label."
8. Check for anemia. Fatigue, poor concentration, motor development delays and reduced work performance can all result from low levels of iron, a key oxygen-carrier in the body. Increasing a child's iron intake when he's been found mildly deficient in iron may have an almost immediate impact on concentration, motor skills and test scores.
9. Eat together. Studies have shown that families who eat meals together eat healthier as a whole, and that kids who eat even one meal day with their families perform better at school.