What Your ADHD Child Should be Eating

I’m going to veer a little off the topic of general health and discuss a topic that is of personal interest to me – diet and ADHD. I know there are many parents out there who, like me, are trying to find ways to help an ADHD child be more successful. Many have tried elimination diets with some success. In addition to taking things out of the ADHD child’s diet, here are some things you can add in to help them cope with their symptoms.
Foods these days tend to be carbohydrate heavy. Cereals, bagels, Pop-tarts (shudder), white breads, crackers are staples in many kids diets. Most these are simple carbs, too, that the body burns quickly. Since ADHD kids tend to be active, they are burning through it even faster. Hunger can cause kids to lose focus and more likely to become grumpy and disruptive, and since ADHD kids already struggle with that, the effect is intensified. Ensuring that your child eats a more protein-rich diet and complex carbohydrates (whole grains) will help them stay more satisfied during the day.
Along with that, more whole foods should be incorporated into their diet. Anyone who has tried an elimination diet for their child has probably looked at the nutritional labels on food and been shocked. I know I was! Almost everything has artificial coloring, artificial flavoring, sugar, and a number of other things that I couldn’t even begin to pronounce. Studies have shown that ADHD kids who eat diets high in sugar and processed foods had increased symptoms than those ADHD kids who ate more healthy diets containing whole grains, fish, chicken, vegetables, fruit. So, start cutting out the sugary, processed foods and start adding in the healthy, whole foods.
I realize it can be a challenge to get kids to eat healthy foods (meal time at my house can sometimes become a battle of wills!), but with a little creativity you can incorporate healthy foods into your child’s diet. While I specifically am citing studies related to ADHD, the same dietary recommendations are made based on studies about many other health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, just to name a few. In other words, it’s good advice for the whole family!