Establishing a Diet Baseline can Lead to a Great Way to Start your Day

Establishing a Diet Baseline Can Lead to a Great Way to Start Your Day

Did you know there's a direct link between nutrition and brain function? More than one in four children (over 27%) in the U.S. have at least one allergic condition such as seasonal allergies, eczema, or food allergies. Our diets can influence our behavior as some studies show a correlation between a diet high in refined sugar and fat and issues like ADHD and poor nutrition can impact mood, attention and learning. Establishing a diet baseline for children—especially those with anxiety, focus issues, video game overuse, or sensitivities like to red dyes—can serve as a systematic way to identify and eliminate foods that may exacerbate symptoms. Studies have shown that certain foods can cause or at least worsen behavioral issues like ADHD and other learning disorders. While changing a child's diet might seem like a daunting task at first, many parents end up feeling relieved when they see positive changes in their child's behavior, because it could reduce stress, social limitations and the need for medication and other treatment options.

A daily log of intake without making any changes can lead to identifying suspect foods that may be deemed “triggers.” Based on evidence from the American Academy of Pediatrics, elimination diets (e.g., the Few-Foods or Oligoantigenic Diet) can improve ADHD symptoms in 30–60% of responsive kids by removing common irritants like artificial colors, preservatives, and allergens.

While most of us are programmed to do our best to adhere to busy daily schedules, it can be a worthwhile exercise to review our meal plans to ensure we are properly fueled and focused. Families can make very easy choices to get themselves ready set to start their days on strong footing.

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