Can intelligence of kids be increased by giving ‘intelligent’ food? If kids’ brain has to shine sharper how should he be given food? Majority of we parents, don’t know what’s a ‘smart food for smart brain’. According to medical science it’s already proved that food and intelligence are co-related and food given to the child at his early ages can really determine his brain growth and intelligence during his later ages as well. Good and healthy food is needed for the good functioning of brain and hence most needed for growing kids as they are learning a lot through ages.

Protein – the most necessary factor needed for the proper growth and functioning of brain. How much neurons increase in number that much intelligent the kid will be. Also proteins refreshes neuron functions a lot. Pulses, peas, milk, egg, fish, meat – all these items can provide a lot of proteins to kids and so, they must be included in daily diet. Soups are good energy supplements to brain. Elements like iodine, zinc and selenium provide nourishment to neuron cells. Instead of giving snack items for coffee breaks, you can send fruits in their snack box.

Need leafy vegetables a lot

Leafy vegetables can supply a lot of nutritious factors for the development of brain cells. More than 50 items of leafy vegetables are used in our country. But majority of them have already extinct. Also, we are not using many of such leaves abundantly found in our courtyard and fields for cooking purposes. Many don’t know its cooking methods as well; also, if they are edible or not. Only a few leafy vegetables like cabbage, spinach, muringa or agathi are used nowadays. Nutrition specialists say, leafy vegetables is a must in homes of studying kids.

Nuts such as cashew nuts, ground nuts and almonds are enough to sharpen the memory power of kids. They should be given fruits like banana, apple, orange, jack fruit, guava, papaya, mango, grapes etc. Always take care to give seasonal fruits to kids that contain fewer pesticides and are comparatively cheaper also. 

Loss of appetite is a kid problem

In a survey conducted by Nutrition Society of India in different schools of Kerala, it’s found that 40% students have anemia related problems and it’s occurring due to low nutrient content food. It’s not the case of a single state, but our country as whole. In many kids, such conditions go unnoticed. No food or not eating food at right time – these are its reasons.

Such deficiencies can easy be covered by dates, sesame or sesame snacks, ragi products, pulses and leafy vegetables. If kids are tired due to such deficiencies, they lack concentration and interest in their studies and such kids may show retardation in mental growth and studies. Such kids may feel more tired as well.

Kids show mental and physical changes at the age of 10. Special care is needed in their food during this stage. Muscles are developing its full structure at this time. So, calcium is a must for a kid of age 10. Ragi, milk, curd and peas are good supplements of calcium.

Breakfast for brain

Laziness and sleepy in classrooms, lack of concentration, thinking something else while teacher is taking class, no freshness, tiredness in eyes – these conditions may appear in a kid at two occasions, if he has taken extra food or if he has not eaten his breakfast. Both are dangerous! Food taken at the early morning is not for the body, but for brain. That’s why breakfast is also called breakfast for brain.

A kid eats his supper at 8 pm and sleeps at 9 or 9.30 at normal conditions. Till he wakes us, he gives nothing to his body. So, glucose level reduces and brain is deficit of nutrients. When it happens, brain can’t function properly leading to tiredness and lack of concentration. To avoid this situation, provide brain with necessary nutritional supplements in the early morning itself. This food gives him energy for the whole day to study, play and think.

What food should be supplied as breakfast?

Most recently a survey was conducted in Tamil Nadu schools by Nutrition Society of India belonging to different sectors and students coming from different financial background. Survey was conducted on 600 students which gave some interesting results. More energetic and intelligent students were those common from normal homes eating homely food while kids having ready made and fast food were seen tired and lack of nutrition.

In this busy world with no time, everyone seek easy ways for everything. When we get easy food from restaurants and bakeries and seeing, kids eating them with interest many parents are opting the same easy path. Result, retarded mental and physical growth of kids and free invitation of many diseases and health related problems. It’s not a wrong habit to buy food from outside once in a while. If you make that habit a part of your life, it will affect your kid’s growth for sure. He need not eat too much food. But what he eats should be healthy and a proper diet.

So, give kids good breakfast. Since a lot of energy is needed for the kid to grasp the lessons at school, give him carbohydrate rich food as breakfast. Proteins should be the next supplement. A few dishes best for kids are given below:

• Idli and sambar/chutney
• Dosa and sambar/chutney
• Appam and egg curry
• Appam and vegetable stoo
• Steam cake and banana/green pea’s curry/peas
• Any dish with sprouted beans
• Half cooked vegetables
• Upma and banana
• Milk and eggs
• Fruit juices instead of tea

Carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, amino acids –all factors needed for child’s brain growth are found in the above food items. Also, never give same items daily. Rotate the food items so that he gets all nutrition needed for the growth. Also, same item if prepared in different ways, adding coloured vegetables can attract kids easily. Make different shapes of same items giving it a new look. Also, avoid fried and fatty items in the morning which may make him sleepy during class hours.

Promises to buy food from outside can harm your kid

It’s a new trend seen in parents. “If you study well, I will buy food from restaurant” – such promises can affect your kid’s studies a lot. If he eats over, how can he study? Instead he will feel sleepy. Again parents will blame him for not studying well. So, it’s parent’s fault, not kid’s.

Instead you can prepare some healthy snacks or sweets at home itself. It’s better to prepare them at home than buying from outside. When you are offering him tasty food from outside, he eats excess meat and fat, fried items, coloured preservatives, ajinomotto etc and whole blood in the body will be supplied to stomach to digest that extra calories and fats. Result – no good supply of blood to brain cells thus making him tired and sleepy. Yet parents disturb him asking to learn, as he promised.

“Alpaahaaram Jeernavasthrum Swananidra” – the three factors needed for a student according to Gurukula. It means “Less food, damaged cloth and sleep of a dog”. Our ancestors say, to study we should eat less food, be vigilant like a dog who can wake from deep sleep and not go for wearing expensive dresses and cosmetics. Instead he should concentrate on his studies only. When a kid’s mind flies to these luxurious things – good food, good dress etc he neglects the importance of education.

We should fill our stomach up to 75% only – says modern science. Then only digestion takes place in a good manner and we won’t feel sleepy. Also, in hotel foods, they are reusing the same oil again and again which is very harmful to kid’s health. Also, such food can make their brain tired.

Brown rice for lunch

Most people take rice as lunch. Prefer brown rice to white rice as it’s more nutritious and it’s good for brain functioning too. Though it takes more time to cook, its outer cover gives extra protection to kid’s heart and brain. Vitamin B and magnesium will be abundant in brown rice. But keep lunch at minimum. If more blood is supplied to stomach for digestion, brain gets less energy which makes student feels sleepy. Yet include a lot of vegetables for lunch. If kid doesn’t take food, you can prepare rice by adding colourful and leafy vegetables which make it richer in nutrients.

Eat fish a lot

Fish can induce brain and its functions. Omega 3 fatty acids – a vital factor needed for brain is found in abundance in fish, particularly sea fish. Make curry instead of fry so that your kid gets its full value. When fish is fried it losses many of its vital nutrients. You can steam fish as well.

Iron – the vehicle

Iron plays an important role in transporting blood to brain cells. Iron deficiency can lead to memory loss and anemia. So, to get good memory give your kid iron rich food like leafy vegetables, pulses, grains etc. Muringa leaves and green spinach contain iron a lot.

Children and sun exposure

It’s a good habit to get exposed to sunlight in the early mornings and late evenings. Sunlight supplies a lot of vitamins needed for our health and skin. It helps in the production of vitamin D needed for the healthy functioning of brain. Legumes, fish and meat contain vitamin D a lot. Yet vitamin D produced by 7D hydrocholesterol of skin is beneficial to kids. That’s why it’s told instead of keeping kids inside living rooms and in front of computers, it’s better to let them to play outside mornings and evenings.

Medicines and nutrition supplements for kids

Expensive or tasty food doesn’t mean it’s nutritious. Many medicines are available in market claiming good for children’s physical and brain growth, also many drinks and supplements. Do kids get the benefits of such brain drinks and medicines?

If medicines are effective in every body part, it’s applicable to brain as well – says doctors. But a recent research conducted by neurology department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences says, ‘it’s just a myth that such medicines catalyze brain growth and development’. Yet they can’t 100% prove that such medicines are ineffective.

According to Ayurveda, the best food for brain is ghee made from cow’s milk. Though it contains cholesterol, if a kid reduces non-vegetarian items in his dish, he can include ghee in his daily diet. Yet, it’s better to prepare such ghee at home, melting milk cream instead of buying ghee packets from outside. Brahmi is an ayurvedic medicine good for brain growth and intelligence. It’s also known as neuron’s tonic. Though it can’t be considered as a true medicine to increase brain growth, it has been proved that many ingredients present in this tonic are able to induce brain.

Enjoy your food

Our body will get all nutrients of food only if they are supplied in a proper way. Kids should enjoy their food well. Then only its nutrients will be perfectly absorbed, promoting kid’s growth and development of brain and other body parts. Very often due to the negligence of parents, kids don’t get enough nutrients in a proper way. Instead of filling his stomach with everything got in hands, take some time to give food to kids.

How should we give them food? We should talk to them and tell stories while giving him food. Also, we should show interest in hearing his words as well. Also, take a lot of time for giving food. It’s the same procedure that grand mothers from ancient days till now follow. If kids don’t show interest in eating, grand mother will show him a crow or tell him a story or bring him to courtyard thus spending a lot of time to feed him food. This type of feeding is known as ‘active feeding’ by modern science. We should play with them and sing some action songs. Active feeding is seen as the first step stone towards mental bonding and social life. It’s applicable in the case of teenagers as well. Family should have at least one meal together. Supper can be chosen for that, as everyone will be available at night. Parents can communicate with kids best at this time, asking him about school and interesting events occurred that day. Avoid TV in your dining room. Instead, have a chat over the dining table.

What to eat for brain

Fish – Mackerel, tuna and sardine are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which help brain growth and development.
Egg – Protein rich food. Its yellow yolk contains cholie that helps brain growth.
Meat – Moderate levels of meat without fat is good for brain. It contains zinc, the most needed factor for brain growth. If you are a vegetarian, you can use soya products as substitutes.
Cashew nut and ground nut – Both contain antioxidants and vitamin-E a lot. Also, Thiamine (vitamin B1) present in these nuts helps to convert glucose to energy as well as functioning of nerves.
Fruits – Vitamins, antioxidants and fibers – the most needed factors for brain growth and development.
Vegetables – Give strength to brain cells. Include carrot, spinach or muringa leaves in your daily diet.
Drinks – Avoid tea and coffee. Instead drink milk and fruit juices.

Are kids having food?

Either school or home – it’s the duty of parents to ensure if their kids are having proper food. Give more time to breakfast, at least 15 minutes in the dining table. Never try to give him food while wearing uniform or shoes. Keep discipline in this matter. You can give eggs or milk along with breakfast. But never over feed them.

Anemia is mainly caused due to deficiency of nutrients and now it’s seen common in children. While parents are giving more importance to studies and extra-curricular activities, less importance to food, particularly breakfast is deteriorating the growth of brain cells without proper nourishment. Such kids grow pale easily and loss weight considerably. It’s very difficult to restore his lost weight. When proper nourishment is not given to brain cells, they are dying and they can never be restored.

If kid’s weight is decreasing or not improving according to his age, parents should seriously think about it. If frequency disease attacks are due to nutrition deficiency, steps should be taken to cover those factors. You can consult a dietician if needed. A pediatric doctor can do this help for you.

Dietician’s help if needed

Dieticians are able to suggest methods to regain the nutrition with less food, in quick time. Follow his regular instructions and give your kid, food according to it. If this condition is not taken seriously if may affect the kid’s brain growth seriously giving him many serious diseases and problems as well. It’s to be noted that healthy brain is the basement of each and every development of our body, because it’s our brain that controls even the minute activity of our body.

If we intake calorie less food, we can reduce our body weight. But it can reduce our intelligence and memory power as well – studies have proved it. Reduce high fat new generation food as much as possible. Instead depend on healthy and nutritious food prepared at home. In every festival or get-together occasion, food is given most preference and as adults, kids are also its victims. So, parents should always remember that in addition to less nutritious food, over dose can also give raise to many health problems, perhaps most dangerous diseases than those resulting from malnutrition.