What Your Child Eats Will Affect How They Perform Overall

A Guest Post by Colette @Jamerican

It's time for back to school and we as parents want our children to be doing great in their school adventure. One of the most important part of going to school, is to ensure our children have the right fuel to get through the day and not be distracted by a hungry stomach.

The type of food your child eats can affect their overall behavior and worse of all affect their academic performance!

Children need healthy meals to perform at their best. Of course they also need the right amount of sleep too!

Parents should take the time to read the labels and avoid certain additives and chemicals found in certain foods. Some of these includes: MSG, hydrogenated fats and oils, Artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup and others.

I am very conscious about ensuring that my children eat healthy. Especially my son because he attends school and I am the one who prepares his breakfasts and lunches and dinner!

Some of the breakfast ideas that I use are:
• Eggs and toasts with a side of yogurt
• Hot cereal (oatmeal or rice) or they have many other ways to cook cereal
• Cold cereal, but only the ones that offer good nutrition without the sugar high. Add cranberries or cherries or any other slices of dried or fresh fruit to this meal
• Bagels with cream cheese and fruits (fresh)
• Whole milk or juice (100%) or tea (warm) or hot chocolate
As a parent I try to ensure he eats lots of vegetables and fruits and whole grains. I also prefer not to purchase meats that are processed or any other process food if I can help it.

Some ideas that I used for his lunches are:
• Turkey sandwich with cheese and veggies and an oatmeal cookie
• Almond butter sandwich with almonds and dried cranberry
• Pizza slices with salad and fruits
• PB&J sandwiches with fresh fruits and a side of yogurt or frozen fruit slush
• Laughing cow cheese with ham and shredded carrots
I love being able to prepare his meals and ensure that he is eating healthy and that he also has a full stomach and not get distracted by rumbling tummy during school.

If you cannot make your child's lunch, many schools have programs in place to help you out and it seems schools are moving toward healthier meals. So seek out more information on your child's school meal program and see if it is something that will work for you and your child.

Check out the blog www.jamericanspice.com for more great information and giveaways for back to school!

Colette


*image credit http://freshhealthyvending.com
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