Smart Choices Help Build Smart Kids

Summer is in your rearview mirror and school is back in session. Kids across the nation will soon be back at their desks and logging time at the homework table. Your child's ability to concentrate and function well at school goes a long way to boost their academic performance, and there are two ways to get it: FOOD and MOVEMENT.

Food is Fuel
Brain function is dependent on the energy it receives, and it receives energy from one thing: food. For school-aged kids, lunch has a huge effect on their ability to concentrate through the afternoon. As moms, we strive to fill their lunchboxes with a variety of nutritious foods that will deliver energy to the brain and body at a steady rate, with the goal of preventing an afternoon 'energy crash.'

For a nutritious and great-tasting portable lunch, think wholesome. One of my favorite lunches is a whole grain pita or bun filled with lean protein like the Hormel® Natural Choice® Honey Deli Ham or Oven Roasted Turkey and rounded out with healthy greens like sprouts; a small apple, banana or other fresh fruit; and a handful of baby carrots. A fresh and easy lunch like this will provide your family with a combination of nutrients to ensure a productive afternoon in the classroom.

Move it or Lose It
Exercise can increase blood flow to the brain by up to 400 percent. That means more oxygen and nutrients for the brain, which are crucial for proper concentration. Before having your children start their homework, send them outdoors (while the weather is still nice!) for at least 30 minutes of physical activity. If this idea makes your kids moan and groan, establish a routine to go out for a good brisk walk through the neighborhood – a perfect way to talk to your children about their day and get active.

For a rainy day, try this indoor activity:

• Grab a roll of paint tape and make a cross on the floor (sidewalk chalk also works great on the garage or basement floor).
• Using the tape place the numbers one, two, three and four at each point of the cross and start a game of "memory jump."
• Have one family member create a pattern of two numbers by jumping from one number to another.
• Each person repeats the pattern; for the next round, add another number to the pattern.
• Continue to add on to the pattern and change it up by hopping on the right leg only and then again using only the left.

The right food and a few minutes of movement give you and your children the perfect recipe for school-year success!

In Health,
Mary Beth Knight
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