4 Essential Feeding Tips for Back-to-School Focus for Kids

When it comes to feeding our kids to support healthy attention levels for school, I often talk about there being ‘thinker helpers’ and the opposite.

There are foods that can help kids focus, just like there are other foods that can make focusing a bit harder.

While packaged foods are definitely more convenient and generally accepted by most kids, many of our commercially prepared foods are missing important nutrition and full of unnecessary additives. The wrong foods can make us feel sluggish, ‘foggy’, irritable, and sometimes physically ill.

Luckily, it’s much easier these days to find yogurt, fruit snacks, granola bars, and other lunchbox favorites made with healthier ingredients, including natural colors and flavors instead of artificial ones.

Here are some healthy eating tips for maximizing learning potential for kids:

Watch out for antinutrients—ingredients that don’t add real value to your child’s diet. These additives can get in the way of the good stuff your child actually needs to grow and thrive. Things like partially hydrogenated oils, excess sugar and sodium, preservatives, and pesticide residues can all block or compete with the absorption of important nutrients.

That’s why it’s so important to check food labels and swap out highly processed options for cleaner, whole-food choices whenever you can. Even small switches add up over time for your child’s health.

I know it’s tough to switch things up when your picky eater is attached to their favorite brands. Taking baby steps by making gradual feeding changes can help with your long-term goals to build a better eater.

Get the short, essential picky eater guidebook to learn how to successfully transform your picky eater into a Brave Taster.

Yes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially when it comes to kids having the proper fuel to function for school focus. We want to structure breakfast into the busy morning routine, making sure there is time for the meal that jump-starts our kids' brains and bodies for the day.

But what our kids eat for breakfast is really important. When kids have breakfasts that are processed carbohydrate foods (think toaster pastries, sugary cereals, white toast with jam), they get quick energy but as the carbs turn to sugar, the result is fatigue and decreased focus.

Having a high-protein breakfast with complex carbs (think eggs, lean meats, whole grain breads, fresh fruit) jumpstarts the metabolism and helps kids to remain alert all morning. Eating high-protein foods helps to prevent lethargy, irritability, and hyperactivity which certainly leads to a better school day.

Choose high-fiber foods - fiber is essential for healthy digestion. It relieves constipation (a common problem for picky eaters), it helps to regulate our blood sugar, and it keeps us feeling full, among other important functions.

Whole grains, nuts and seeds, and fruits and vegetables are excellent high-fiber foods and contain an abundance of other essential nutrients. If your kid’s school is a nut-free zone, sun butter is a great lunchbox alternative.

Try this yummy, healthy Overnight Oats recipe. It’s a quick and easy recipe to make ahead of time with the kids, and perfect for a nutritious school morning breakfast!

You may also like these related posts:

5 Strategies to Help Your Child with ADHD Focus and Succeed

Get an A+ in Nutrition: The Best Healthy Snacks for Kids and Grown-ups to Stay Focused

5 Home Suggestions to Help Support Your Child's Attention in School

All blog content shared through HealthSmart! Kids is for informational purposes only and not to be construed as medical advice. Always talk with your qualified health care provider for managing your health care needs.