As education forms the crux of one’s childhood, youngsters need a nutritious diet to be able to properly absorb and implement knowledge imparted to them, says Ladybird Nursery
All parents are acutely aware of the food pyramid and the ‘five a day rule’, but most do not stop to consider how these play an important role in a child’s ability to learn and understand information in the most productive and efficient way possible.
Monica Valrani, CEO of Ladybird Nursery finds that, “Educating children from a young age helps develop cognition and learning abilities that will aid them in the future. Supplementing this education with the right nutrition will only enhance the positive effects on young ones.”
Across the board, parents have meal times down to an art, making sure their children take in the right kinds of food, but snacks are not usually considered in this regard. Unhealthy snacking can be made into a good habit by switching out sugary treats for even more appealing, cognition boosting alternatives.
Memory and retention can be improved through the consumption of flavour packed blueberries, and broccoli, the latter of which isn’t enjoyed by most, but can be, when paired with the region’s favourite dip, hummus. Cognition skills as well as memory can be increased by snacking on a variety of nuts, thanks to its many beneficial antioxidants and healthy fats.
Vitamin rich fruits such as oranges, guavas and kiwis help the upkeep of brain health, and ensure this lasts into the later years of life. Salmon boosts brain functions, which in the long run allows for children to grasp many of the concepts taught in the classroom much quicker. This can be enjoyed in the form of super simple smoked salmon on crackers, or as delicious salmon cakes.
Last, but not least, is chocolate – usually viewed as the forerunner of undesirable snacking, but this is not necessarily true. Dark chocolate still retains the mood uplifting benefits of milk chocolate, but lacks the drawbacks of its lighter counterparts. In addition to this, compounds in dark chocolate have been found to strengthen the section of the brain that leads to effective learning as these improve blood flow to the brain. Combining this with the previously mentioned blueberries by coating them in dark chocolate, definitely make for a super snack that the kids will love.
“At Ladybird Nursery we encourage parents to send healthy snacks to the nursery to boost children’s energy levels, while also providing them with a variety of other advantages,” explains Valrani.
For more information, visit https://ladybirdnursery.ae/
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