Back to School - Give your kids a head-start for the new school year

Back to School - Give your kids a head-start for the new school year

The first day of school can be tough! There are so many new faces, new rules and so much new information for your kids to take in. The start of the school year can be filled with anxiety, dread or excitement. Fortunately there are some simple and effective things you can do to give your kids a head start for the beginning of this school year.

Sharpen their mental focus

A protein breakfast will make a huge impact not only on their physical energy but also their immune system and brain.  This means they can concentrate much more easily and longer.  If you follow up with a protein snack for recess and lunch they will not get sleepy in the afternoon nor come home irritable and moody.  You will be amazed at how much information they can absorb on a full belly.

Is the new school year stressing them out?

Many children get stressed and anxious at the beginning of a new school year. Anxiety can interfere with children’s confidence, attention and behaviour and is often associated with ADHD. Talking about their day every evening at meal time is a great way to find out what is going on quickly and also take any positive action if needed. Magnesium and calcium play an important role in reducing stress and these are abundant in leafy green vegetables. And please see one of our Naturopaths if you wish to give a supplement as they will ascertain exactly what your child needs.  Buying cheap products over the counter is not recommended as they often contain additives and fillers that can actually exacerbate the situation.

Feed their brains fish

Many of you may have heard of the benefits of omega-3 essential fatty acids. It is mainly the DHA component of omega-3 fatty acids that is responsible for assisting with normal brain and visual function. In fact the brain and retina (in the eye) contain the highest content of DHA of any tissues. DHA has been shown in a number of experiments to enhance learning and memory. For children and teenagers who have learning difficulties or students under high pressure, DHA from purified fish oil is an excellent choice. Sadly most children do not eat enough oily fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines.  If you are looking for an easy way to get DHA into your children then come into the Clinic where we can quickly and effectively ascertain some of the great tasting options that are available which are not oxidised nor contain heavy metals. 

Simple recommendations to maximise your child’s learning experience:

• Make sure your children eat a protein breakfast.  Ideas are listed below. 

• Put your child to bed early.  The most beneficial sleep is before midnight.
  Children need more sleep than adults and lack of sleep can affect their learning.

• Get a regular routine and stick to it; this will make the start and end of the day less stressful for

   both you and your children.

• Encourage your kids to talk about their day, this helps them develop their communication skills

   and can give you valuable insight into how they are going. If you sense any problems, discuss it
   with their teacher.

Want the best for your children?

We have some great natural options available from our Clinic for optimising the health of your children and assist them get through these first weeks of school. We also have many other natural health solutions specifically tailored to meet their needs.  So if you want the best for your children’s health come and discuss available options with us today.

Resource:  Wellness Review, Metagenics

Breakfast Ideas

13 Gluten & Dairy Free
* Scrambled eggs with spinach/kale and herbs on GF toast
* Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and parsley
* Eggs with sausage (preservative/gluten free), tomato & GF toast
* Eggs with bacon, grilled tomato & spinach on GF toast
* Egg turnover with kale and sheep/goats cheese
* Tomato and parsley frittata

* Sliced turkey/chicken/smoked salmon & avocado on rice thins
* GF Chicken sausages with tomato, avocado, cucumber, red onion salsa
* Brown rice, tuna, stock, roasted almonds, parsley
* Homemade baked beans
* High protein gluten free muesli - see recipe at thesensitivetarteblogspot.com
* Smoked salmon, fresh sliced tomato/avocado on GF toast
* Turkey/chicken patties with avocado or wilted spinach

Your Health is Our Passion!