Diet plays an important role in the growth of a child’s’ physical as well as mental health. When it comes to ADHD or hyper attention disorder in children, wholesome nutrition helps in coping with the symptoms caused by this disorder.
Here are 4 nutrition-packed snacks that can be added to the diet of children with ADHD.
Whole-wheat
crackers
A great way of substituting potato chips is to go
for whole-wheat crackers. Baked chips or even pretzels are great for your
child’s nutritional needs. Potato chips have high-fat content and offer very
little when it comes to nutrition. In order to give your child a fair share of
healthy and crunchy foods, choose whole-wheat crackers. Another great
substitute for potato chips is hot-air popcorn; it is loaded with fiber and is
a suitable add-on to a child’s ADHD diet.
Hummus
spread on pita
A Middle Eastern spread, hummus is made from
boiled chickpeas blended with a paste made from sesame seeds, also known as
tahini. Hummus is loaded with fiber and protein, which helps kids with ADHD to
focus better and stay calm. You can serve hummus on a whole-wheat pita bread,
which is a fiber-rich option. Add finely chopped veggies to the hummus for a
crunchy twist.
Fruit
shakes
Minerals, vitamins, and fibers are important for children
with ADHD. These nutrients can be easily provided by fruits, but it is common
for a child to avoid a whole apple or banana. In that case, you can prepare
fruit shakes by adding a couple of fresh fruits to milk and blending it all
into a nice milkshake. Adding non-fat Greek yogurt to the fruit shakes will
add some extra protein to the drink and make it yummier too. Or, you can add a
scoop or two of peanut butter, which also gives a boost of protein. If your
kid isn’t too keen on taking omega-3s capsules or ADHD medications, you can
sneak in those in the shake too and it’s a win-win. Nuts and dried fruits
Fiber is a must in
your child’s diet whether they have ADHD or not. The combination of nuts and
dried fruits is one of the best sources of fiber and protein. Although dried
fruits have low amounts of protein, when added with nuts, they can be great for
a child’s ADHD diet. However, it is important to watch the portions of dried
fruits and nuts as these can quickly add calories. Although it is not a major
concern, nutritionists suggest that having smaller snack servings is better
than larger ones. Also, it is necessary to check that your kid doesn’t overeat.