Does Healthy Eating Affect Children’s Behavior?

We all know that providing a healthy diet for children is essential to good physical development. But what about behavior? Can food choices affect children’s emotional and behavioral development as well? In my experience, the answer is a resounding YES! Below are some proven and practical techniques to teach your children about healthy eating habits which will ensure they are happy and well behaved.

1. Read to them. Read any book you can find about eating healthy. A few suggestions are:
   • I Heard it From Alice Zucchini: Poems About the Garden by Juanita Havill (found at The Cordial Cricket in Chester, VA)
   • Good Enough to Eat by Lizzy Rockwell
   • Eat Healthy Feel Great by William and Martha Sears
   Spending time reading with your children is a great teaching tool, but it is also a bonding experience between you and your children that is important for fostering their sense of security, confidence and belonging. Children who feel loved and confidant are more likely to engage in behavior that will bring a smile to your own face.
2. Make them responsible for their diet. Post a food pyramid on your refrigerator. Study it with your child, and take them to the grocery store with you so that they can pick out foods that they need to eat every day. Whenever parents ask me what they should do about challenging behavior, one of the solutions I give them is to keep their child busy. Give them jobs and responsibilities they can handle according to age, and praise them when they follow thru and make a good effort. The praise you give them when they make good choices about their diet will be the incentive they need to continue the positive behavior.
3. Keep your children hydrated. Keep a full sippy cup, bottle of water, or watered down fruit juice in your child’s reach at all times. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics; “there is no specific amount of water recommended for children, but it’s a good idea to give them water throughout the day- not just when they’re thirsty.” Obviously, we all know that water is good for a child’s body, but my personal experience teaching in the classroom is that hydrated children are happier, better behaved, and more attentive. Try these ideas and I promise you will see a difference in your child’s physical and mental well-being.