A study by Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital showed that children who regularly ate breakfast had better standardized test scores, better behavior and were less hyperactive than children who skipped breakfast.

One example of a good breakfast would be eggs, whole grain toast with nut butter, and a piece of fruit. Tofu or lean meat are good choices as well. The protein and lower starch foods will keep your child satisfied until lunch time. Stay away from the sugary breakfast cereals, white flour pancakes and syrup which will leave your child hungry and tired half way through the morning.

If your child’s school has a time for a mid morning snack, send an apple or whole grain crackers rather than sugary cookies or white flour crackers.

School lunches might also show a lot of junk like greasy pizza, french fries and other fast food. They often resemble a pile of sugar and starch on a tray with only a small amount of protein and no healthy fats. One high school in Appleton, Wisconsin replaced their regular poor quality lunches with healthy, fresh foods and water. The changes resulted in improved behavior and zero truancies. Convincing schools to change their lunches might take a lot of effort but you can teach your kids the importance of eating nutritious and maybe with enough education, they will choose healthier salads and vegetables over french fries. Another option is to send lunch with your kids. Hearty soups, salads, fruits and sandwiches made with whole grain breads can all be packed in insulated containers to stay hot and cold. Getting healthy nutrition at lunch time will help keep your childs mind sharp and ready to learn all afternoon.

An after school snack may be a nice way to refuel a kids body before play or study time. A handful of nuts and an apple is perfect or maybe a snack tray of veggies and dips. Keep chips and candy out of the house.

A good supply of water is needed for concentration and alertness. A lack of water allows the blood (which is 83% water) to thicken and unable to efficiently transport nutrients to the brain. Thickened blood also has a diminished ability to remove the waste products that result from the brains consumption of nutrition. Parents must balance their children’s water intake with other fluids that may be high in sugar.