Page 78 - Issue 112 May-June 2021

Healthy foods 8 Brain foods for healthier children Olivia Cheng on a diet that supports cognition and learning 78 We all know healthy kids need a proper diet. Children lead busy lives and they need the energy to manage a full day and the nutrients to help them grow strong. Along with foods that will fuel your child’s day and help them grow, you also want to consider a diet that will support brain development. The right foods will not only assist with brain development, but they can support better cognitive function and help them learn. Consider the following foods if you are looking to create a brain-healthy diet for your children. Leafy Greens Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach and kale are important for supporting brain health. These vegetables are high in nutrients like vitamin K, folate, beta carotene and lutein. Research has shown that these types of vegetables can slow cognitive decline later in life and they also provide nutrients that are important for building new brain cells. Making a salad is one obvious way to introduce these vegetables to your child’s diet. If your child doesn’t like salad, consider “Important for supporting brain health” adding spinach to an omelette or to lasagne. You could also make tasty smoothies and add kale or spinach without your child knowing. Nuts and Seeds Nuts and seeds can be a great source of protein and they are also rich in fatty acids and other nutrients. If you are looking for nuts and seeds to add to your child’s diet, consider options like almonds, cashews, pistachios, sunflower seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and pecans. Nuts and seeds can be good as a snack to serve throughout the day. You could eat them on their own or make a trail mix with nuts, seeds and dried fruit. You also have different types of nut butter you can use as a spread. Beyond peanut butter, SEN112 senmagazine.co.uk