Parents…Want To Create The Perfect Scenario For Your Kids’ Learning?

It’s easy. Slowly introduce them to the calming effects of lower-carbohydrate eating, both at home, and school. Now stand back and watch the magic unfold over time.

“When children eat low carb nutritious meals they avoid the high/low blood sugar roller coaster, they avoid energy slumps and more importantly, they avoid most of the inflammatory elements of our modern diet. Many parents are unaware of how much sugar is hidden in everyday foods.”

Let’s talk about addiction here, or behavior that closely-mirrors addiction.

“Alex DiFeliceantonio and Ashley N. Gearhardt, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan, analyzed whether highly processed foods — such as sugary soft drinks, baked goods, chips, burgers and fries — can be considered addictive by comparing their properties to those of tobacco.

“Gearhardt and DiFeliceantonio applied three scientific criteria outlined in the 1988 Surgeon General’s report on tobacco products to highly processed foods. They found that highly processed foods share the addictive characteristics of tobacco because they cause compulsive use; have psychoactive, or mood-altering, effects on the brain; and are highly reinforcing. They added a fourth attribute, informed by an advanced understanding of behavior and the human brain, that the foods “trigger strong urges and cravings.”

This is borne out in the following stories

In my last school the tuck shop lady introduced birthday class treats that parents could buy for their child’s class.

At that time parents couldn’t send a whole birthday cake. It had to be already cut, an imposed health regulation.

They would take care of the rest.

And they did. Too easy.

But too easy doesn’t mean ideal. Far from it in this case.

These were not treats baked by the amazing volunteer mothers, with fresh ingredients. Rather they were baked from a commercial mixture, ending up twice the size of any regular muffin and weighing half as much. Goodness knows what was in them.

Two things happened on my watch.

On the first occasion, the cakes were handed out before recess, after which, the students went to play.

Now, I have no idea what happened to this normally-placid student, but only thirty minutes later he came back to class, eyes glazed, in an absolute rage.

He then began wildly throwing chairs around the room. Nobody was safe. Fortunately nobody was hurt, but that’s because I rushed the students out of class.

A few desks were also upturned. Nothing was selective. All was random.

Anything he could get his hands on, he did. Pure psychotic behavior the likes of which I had not witnessed before…just after eating one of these sugary monsters.

He then hid in what was referred to as the forest, but eventually came back to class, clearly ashamed of his behavior.

“Are you alright?” I asked.

He nodded, his eyes filled with tears.

It rocked us all.

Our class climate was subdued for the rest of the day, yes even after lunch break when kids usually exercise their worries away.

I made a mental note to refer it to our school counsellor, but later, I talked to his mother who confirmed he doesn’t do well with additives. She was very contrite.

Too late, in this case, and we should have been informed. Still, it could have been so much worse.

The end result, after discussions with the principal, was that the birthday muffins initiative, was put to rest, but not until yet another incident occurred.

This was a student already covered in psoriasis.

Poor girl. She sat most days scratching her skin until her body was pretty much bloodied.

But not so long after eating one of the said muffins, she was in a much sorrier state.

Like many of the students she had a love of all things tuck shop.

It showed up in her as psoriasis…and it showed up even more after eating the muffin.

These are two extreme cases, but who knows what the additives might be doing to other students, reactions we don’t necessarily see immediately?

Reading labels

“Statistics suggest anywhere between 1 to 5 per cent of people react to one or more food additives. The most common reactions include respiratory problems like asthma; skin conditions such as hives, itching and swelling; digestive issues including diarrhoea; and nervous reactions like hyperactivity and insomnia.”

I’d suggest these are the lucky ones.

Students may not exhibit stress, but it doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

“Almost one child in four is overweight or obese in Australia. Reducing ultra-processed high carb, high sugar intake from children’s regular meals, snacks and drinks can potentially reduce their risk of weight gain and obesity, type 2 diabetes, tooth decay and other diseases of metabolic dysfunction.”

At the end of the day, we want our children to be well-nourished

This challenges us to re-consider the refined foods we naturally include into children’s diets, cereals, pasta, and bread, foods some parents think their children could never do without.

But this is more tradition than certainty.

I recently served an overweight friend some cauliflower mash with a red-wine casserole, for dinner.

He scooped up every skerrick and vowed that it was delicious.

I said nothing. Nor did my partner in crime, his wife. And that has become her secret weapon in her efforts to have Steven lose a few kilos.

He does love comfort food, so now he has things like shepherd’s pie with cauliflower mash on top.

Looks like shepherd’s pie, and tastes just as good.

One day she might tell him…maybe!

I know. It’s trickery at its finest, but it can be forgiven when the cat’s out of the bag.

Besides it’s what we have to do, not just for the Stevens of this world, but for our children.

When we consume real food, we are more easily satisfied, which means overeating is less likely to occur.

“Foods like avocados, green leafy veggies, chia seeds, flaxseeds, nuts, raspberries and blackberries are high in fibre, which has been found to be beneficial for digestive gut health and keeping kids feeling fuller, longer.”

What say you? Are you willing to give this a go?