Is your child irritable, cranky, tired, or depressed? Do they suffer from mood swings that include frequent tantrums? Chances are that their dietary routine and habits are subpar. You, as a parent, must note that your children’s diet plays a crucial role in their upbringing as it not just affects their health but also their mood.
To remain in pink of health and good mood, they need nutritious meals with enough vitamins, complex carbohydrates, and omega-3 fatty acids. Besides, you must ensure that their diet does not include too much of saturated fats. Instead, they should be on high-protein and low-fat diets. Great examples of food that contain these nutritional elements are fruits, vegetables, chicken, and egg whites. Being a modern-day parent, you might consider multivitamins and spirulina as well. Spirulina has 0% fat and almost entirely consists of protein. You’ll have to use these in conjunction with regular foods so that your children get a complete diet.
Today, in this article below, we, at Delhi Public School, Kota, positioned among the top 5 schools in Kota, will shed light on the positive effects of a complete diet on children so that they not just grow healthy but also feel the positivity and goodness from within.
The Chemistry Behind Your Child’s Mood
You see, you must be aware of certain nutrients as they affect a child’s mood. These include Proteins, Vitamin B12, Iron, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, etc. The ideal meal consists of all these ingredients for children’s development and mood.
In fact, the importance of children’s diet on their moods can’t be overstated! It affects how they feel physically and emotionally. Healthier diets help children feel better by improving their physical health, resulting in emotional well-being. A child’s diet affects their mood by influencing how the brain functions and how it can communicate with other parts of the body. The different nutrients in food affect how well they can process information, regulate emotions, and control impulses. The nutrients they receive will depend on the type of food they eat. So, here we have brought for you a breakdown of some essential nutrients, and how they’ll affect your child’s mood and behavior:
- Proteins:
Protein-rich foods are essential for the growth of children. They are a good source of energy and help develop muscle tissues. Proteins also help in the development of the brain and its cognitive functions. The resultant effect is improvement in their concentration, focus, and mood. Consumption of protein-rich foods also reduces the chances of ADHD in kids. It is because protein reduces hyperactivity and impulsiveness in children.
- Vitamin B12:
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient for maintaining the nervous system, red blood cell production, and DNA synthesis. This vitamin can be found in animal sources such as meat and fish, and are essential to a child’s mood stability. In fact, this vitamin has a close association with happiness in children. The most common food sources of Vitamin B12 are eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, and fortified cereals which contribute to a child’s brain development, resulting in a calm child.
- Iron:
The benefits of consuming food rich in iron are bountiful. Iron deficiency can cause anemia, which may lead to fatigue, irritability, and other symptoms. Consumption of iron-rich foods thus not just avoids anemia and similar health issues in children but also helps put a stop to such mood handicaps. Iron can be found in foods such as beef, chicken liver, eggs, green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, etc.
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids:
Omega 3 Fatty Acids are essential for the human body and are found in fish and nuts. Consuming foods rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids can positively affect a child’s mood. It has been seen that children with mood disorders generally have low levels of Omega 3 Fatty Acids in their blood.
To summarize…
The food your children eat affects their mood and dictates how they behave. A diet high in sugar, refined carbs, and fat is one of the biggest reasons leading to mood swings, depression, and other problems like the inability to focus in children. Thus, as a responsible parent, make sure you don’t let your kids consume too much of such foods containing these elements. Remember, a balanced diet with sufficient nutrients will help your children stay active and energetic and avoid mood swings. Thus, make it a point to feed your kids a healthy mix of vegetables, fruits, proteins, and whole grains, which would result in excellent health in the long run.
With this, we, at Delhi Public School, Kota, one of the top 5 schools in Kota, hope you have understood the correlation between your child’s diet and mood, and will take all the necessary steps towards ensuring that these little bundles of joy remain happy and healthy always!