Why Care?
So why make the effort to eat healthy anyway? This is a fair question that deserves a fair answer. So here it is: Eating a balanced, whole food based diet improves our quality of life in almost every imaginable way! When we consume multiple nutrients across all of the food groups and avoid harmful ingredients we allow our nervous system, including our brain, to function at its best. When our nervous system is in top notch shape we benefit, because this system influences how we feel, how we think, how we look and how well we do things. These influences are positive when our brains are well supported by diet. Before we can compel youth to take care of what they put in their mouths we must understand and believe in the connection between diet, nervous system health and quality of life. Listed below are notable benefits of improving nervous system function through adopting a better diet:
Note: Healthy diets improve functioning of the digestive system, cardiovascular system, muscular-skeletal system, and immune systems as well. So the below listed benefits are truly a consequence of the healthy interactions between ALL well fed body systems.
How We Feel
- Calmer
- Happier
- More energetic
- More confident
- Less frequently ill
- Less body pain
- More motivated
- Less hungry
- More well rested
How We Think
- Better memory
- Clearer mind
- More attentive and focused
- More creative
How We Look
- Clearer complexion
- Reduction of excess weight
How Well We Do Things
· Most of us would like to feel energetic and would like to do well at the very least, one thing. Some of us wish to play our guitar more smoothly. Some want to score that winning soccer goal with finesse. Some would simply like to understand our Math or English lessons. Others may like to speak and socialize with ease. When we eat well we become better equipped to achieve such goals. This is because the chemicals, called neurotransmitters, via which our nervous system commands the body and rebuilds itself are more abundant when the brain is adequately fed. As a result, we memorize movements and ideas more efficiently and think more effectively. Basically, we are better able to do things than if our brains are undernourished. Further, our neurotransmitter activity impacts our sense of well-being and happiness. According to happiness psychologist Shawn Anchor [linked below] we tend to be more capable versions of ourselves when we feel positive and happy. So eat well to do well!!
Simple Tips for Eating Healthy
· Mostly plants
· Not too much
· Eat Whole Foods (try to minimize processed and packaged foods and maximize consumption of simple foods that grow on trees, vines or in the ground)
· Drink water regularly
· Eat from all of the food groups
· Eat a rainbow colored assortment of food daily (dark green, purple/blue, yellow, orange, red)
· Avoid excessive consumption of foods high in simple sugars (candy, pop, cakes, pastries)
· Include complex carbohydrates (brown rice, whole wheat, quinoa, oatmeal)
· Include foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids (fish, nuts, avocados, seeds)
· Eat a range of protein. (beans, lentils, fish, poultry, eggs)
Evidence Articles
Sounds too good to be true? Not convinced? We understand this and encourage you to review the following articles that provide evidence for our claims as well as tips for healthy eating.
Food & Mood / Mental Health Connection
How Food Affects Your Mood
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/how-food-affects-your-moods.
Diet Help for ADHD Children
http://www.adhdchildparenting.com/adhd-child-diet-therapy.php
Self Esteem: The Nutrition Connection
http://americannutritionassociation.org/newsletter/self-esteem-nutrition-connection
Food & Learning (Memory, Mental Clarity, Focus)
Feeding the Brain for Academic Success: How Nutrition & Hydration Boost Learning
Note: Of all the articles listed, this is a MUST READ!
http://www.healthybrainforlife.com/articles/school-health-and-nutrition/feeding-the-brain-for-academic-success-how
Well Fed Kids Do Better In School – Article with tips for feeding youth
http://nutrition.about.com/od/nutritionforchildren/a/dietandlearning.htm
Dr. Daniel Amen’s (Author of Change Your Brain, Change Your Life) list of top 50 brain foods
http://danielplan.com/healthyhabits/50bestbrainfoodslist/
Happiness & Success
Ted Talk: The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Anchor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy__kBVq1M
So why make the effort to eat healthy anyway? This is a fair question that deserves a fair answer. So here it is: Eating a balanced, whole food based diet improves our quality of life in almost every imaginable way! When we consume multiple nutrients across all of the food groups and avoid harmful ingredients we allow our nervous system, including our brain, to function at its best. When our nervous system is in top notch shape we benefit, because this system influences how we feel, how we think, how we look and how well we do things. These influences are positive when our brains are well supported by diet. Before we can compel youth to take care of what they put in their mouths we must understand and believe in the connection between diet, nervous system health and quality of life. Listed below are notable benefits of improving nervous system function through adopting a better diet:
Note: Healthy diets improve functioning of the digestive system, cardiovascular system, muscular-skeletal system, and immune systems as well. So the below listed benefits are truly a consequence of the healthy interactions between ALL well fed body systems.
How We Feel
- Calmer
- Happier
- More energetic
- More confident
- Less frequently ill
- Less body pain
- More motivated
- Less hungry
- More well rested
How We Think
- Better memory
- Clearer mind
- More attentive and focused
- More creative
How We Look
- Clearer complexion
- Reduction of excess weight
How Well We Do Things
· Most of us would like to feel energetic and would like to do well at the very least, one thing. Some of us wish to play our guitar more smoothly. Some want to score that winning soccer goal with finesse. Some would simply like to understand our Math or English lessons. Others may like to speak and socialize with ease. When we eat well we become better equipped to achieve such goals. This is because the chemicals, called neurotransmitters, via which our nervous system commands the body and rebuilds itself are more abundant when the brain is adequately fed. As a result, we memorize movements and ideas more efficiently and think more effectively. Basically, we are better able to do things than if our brains are undernourished. Further, our neurotransmitter activity impacts our sense of well-being and happiness. According to happiness psychologist Shawn Anchor [linked below] we tend to be more capable versions of ourselves when we feel positive and happy. So eat well to do well!!
Simple Tips for Eating Healthy
· Mostly plants
· Not too much
· Eat Whole Foods (try to minimize processed and packaged foods and maximize consumption of simple foods that grow on trees, vines or in the ground)
· Drink water regularly
· Eat from all of the food groups
· Eat a rainbow colored assortment of food daily (dark green, purple/blue, yellow, orange, red)
· Avoid excessive consumption of foods high in simple sugars (candy, pop, cakes, pastries)
· Include complex carbohydrates (brown rice, whole wheat, quinoa, oatmeal)
· Include foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids (fish, nuts, avocados, seeds)
· Eat a range of protein. (beans, lentils, fish, poultry, eggs)
Evidence Articles
Sounds too good to be true? Not convinced? We understand this and encourage you to review the following articles that provide evidence for our claims as well as tips for healthy eating.
Food & Mood / Mental Health Connection
How Food Affects Your Mood
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/how-food-affects-your-moods.
Diet Help for ADHD Children
http://www.adhdchildparenting.com/adhd-child-diet-therapy.php
Self Esteem: The Nutrition Connection
http://americannutritionassociation.org/newsletter/self-esteem-nutrition-connection
Food & Learning (Memory, Mental Clarity, Focus)
Feeding the Brain for Academic Success: How Nutrition & Hydration Boost Learning
Note: Of all the articles listed, this is a MUST READ!
http://www.healthybrainforlife.com/articles/school-health-and-nutrition/feeding-the-brain-for-academic-success-how
Well Fed Kids Do Better In School – Article with tips for feeding youth
http://nutrition.about.com/od/nutritionforchildren/a/dietandlearning.htm
Dr. Daniel Amen’s (Author of Change Your Brain, Change Your Life) list of top 50 brain foods
http://danielplan.com/healthyhabits/50bestbrainfoodslist/
Happiness & Success
Ted Talk: The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Anchor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy__kBVq1M