“Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Many of the children and families I work with do not eat enough of these foods. When schools have standardized tests, they often send a note home to be sure the children eat a healthy breakfast that day,” added Koltun. “Why not recommend that every day?”
Fruits and vegetables bring a strong set of physical benefits. The link between physical health and mental health has long been known, including the connection between a healthy diet and mood within adults. Expanding the concept for children seems only natural, according to experts.
“I usually suggest an eating style that includes a variety of foods including plant-based foods, limiting refined and processed carbohydrates and sugar, as well as drinking more water and little or no sugar-sweetened beverages,” said Koltun.
Eating lean and healthy proteins can also help people avoid the feeling of a “sugar crash” after your blood sugar spikes and then drops.
“We know that good nutrition can help with brain development, but now the fact that it has an impact on mental well-being is monumental. We can add this to our list of reasons why good nutrition and good eating habits can help our pediatric clients,” Koltun said.
The study authors wrote that they hope their research will encourage officials to enact policies that would help children get more access to nutritious and fresh foods both in and out of school settings. While this study was based in the U.K., n the U.S. mean many children have little access to affordable fresh fruit and vegetables on a daily basis.
“Public health strategies and school policies should be developed to ensure that good quality nutrition is available to all children both before and during school in order to optimize mental well-being and empower children to fulfill their full potential,” they wrote.
This content was originally published here.