Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Moms have been saying this for years, usually while shoving a piece of toast and a banana into the hand of a child rushing to catch the bus, and a growing body of research is backing up that maternal logic. A post from earlier this month examined how the quantity of food can affect students, so because March is National Nutrition Month and I’m a nutrition enthusiast, let’s talk about how the quality of what kids eat can affect their capacity for learning.
The most basic studies have found that a balanced profile of protein, complex carbohydrates, and unsaturated fats is the best framework for childhood nutrition. When any of these important groups overshadows the others, significant health concerns that relate directly to a child’s ability to learn can quickly become apparent.
Several studies have also examined the effects of specific micronutrients on learning, and while the importance of things like iron, folate, and iodine are pretty well established, research is still emerging on nutrients like vitamin B-12 and omega-3 fatty acids.
Here’s a quick list of nutrients thought to be of particular importance to the developing minds of school-age children: Read more »
When I went to see Markus Zusak, famed author of The Book Thief and I Am the Messenger, I expected to learn a little more about his books and get my copy of The Book Thief signed. What I didn’t expect was to walk away itching to write my own stories.
