Avoid Foods That WorsenADHD Symptoms With These Healthy Treat Alternatives
Your child has learning and developmental issues, and you know that certain foods aggravate the situation. However, it's sometimes a struggle to find healthy alternatives to birthday sweets and school treats. Here are some suggestions for you to try.
Healthy Birthday Party Treats
Your child, like every other child you know, wants to have a birthday party on the big day, but it's important to avoid foods with artificial colorings and sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup levels, frosting or high sugar content. Try these healthy birthday treats:
- Fresh fruit tossed in spices, for example, apple slices and cinnamon or pear chunks and cardamom. Apple slices in honey are delicious, if a trifle sticky.
- Mini muffins made with banana, pumpkin, corn, cranberries or blueberries.
- Cookies such as crunchy oatmeal and raisin or blueberry.
- Healthy cereal or granola bars.
- Dried fruit or 100 percent dried fruit rolls.
- Fresh fruit kebabs with a dipping sauce of vanilla yogurt.
- Yogurt buffet served with a variety of toppings like chopped fruit and berries, granola and shredded coconut.
- Strawberry tips or banana slices dipped in dark chocolate.
- Fruit shakes made from blended fresh fruit, ice and yogurt.
- Banana or pear bread is a good substitute for sugary birthday cake and can be decorated with fresh fruit and a little whipped cream.
Offer a large variety of healthy birthday treats, and you'll see how the kids flock around the food and drink tables and relish what's on offer.
Nutritious School Snacks & Sweets
Healthy school treats for your child is another area where you sometimes run short of ideas. It's best to provide snacks that transport easily and are not difficult to eat, such as:
- Savory popcorn, either made at home or a purchased low-salt brand.
- Whole-grain crackers.
- Homemade low-sugar cookies.
- Dried and fresh fruit.
- Zucchini or pumpkin bread.
- Trail mix and pretzels.
- Carrot sticks and cherry tomatoes.
Homemade Treats or Store Bought Sweets?
Homemade treats are best because you know exactly what goes into them. However, if that is not your field of expertise, or you just don't have time,then buy your child's school treats. Read the labels carefully and go for reputable brands that you know specialize in low-sugar, high GI foods, and low-salt foods.
Below is a delicious and easy homemade recipe for Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips that can be served at a birthday party or sent to school as a special treat!
Sugar-Free School & Birthday Celebrations
Another option is to skip the treats and instead donate a classroom gift in honor of your birthday child or provide goody bags for birthday party guests. Donations like a new board game or library book can go a long way to making your child feel special on his or her big day without contributing to the sugar overload that most school children experience on a daily basis.
If you opt tosend in a special treat, try to provide a balance of healthysweets that are good for your child, and you know will be enjoyed. Have fun together devising new concoctions or coming up with alternative ideas to the traditional birthday dessert that will help keep your child with ADHD on track in everyday life and at school.
The Brain Balance Program®
A healthy lifestyle that includes identifying food sensitivities, as well as balancing nutritional deficiencies, plays an integral role in supporting proper brain development and function. That’s whyThe Brain Balance Programincludes abio-nutritionalcomponent in addition to our academic and sensory motor objectives.Contact ustoday to learn more!
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Disclaimer: The information presented on this web site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment of specific medical conditions. Discuss this information with your healthcare provider to determine what is right for you and your family.
FAQs
Foods high in fiber, such as whole-grain crackers, fruits, and vegetables, provide a steady release of energy. This can help individuals with ADHD avoid the rollercoaster of sugar highs and crashes. John, a software engineer, used to rely on sugary snacks for a quick energy boost during long coding sessions.
What are the best snacks for ADHD people? ›
Foods high in fiber, such as whole-grain crackers, fruits, and vegetables, provide a steady release of energy. This can help individuals with ADHD avoid the rollercoaster of sugar highs and crashes. John, a software engineer, used to rely on sugary snacks for a quick energy boost during long coding sessions.
Can kids with ADHD have sweets? ›
The sugar in candy, soft drinks, and fruit juices can cause dysregulation in the brain. Specifically, sugar stimulates dopamine in the brain, as well as opioid receptors, which causes cravings for it. For those with ADHD, sugar intake should be monitored closely since it can make ADHD symptoms worse.
What are dopamine snacks for ADHD? ›
Part-skim mozzarella sticks, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, protein bars, dried fruit, nuts and seeds, apples, and oranges are all great choices for a successful ADHD diet.
What are sweet snacks for ADHD? ›
Strawberry tips or banana slices dipped in dark chocolate. Fruit shakes made from blended fresh fruit, ice and yogurt. Banana or pear bread is a good substitute for sugary birthday cake and can be decorated with fresh fruit and a little whipped cream.
Are bananas good for ADHD? ›
Bananas. The humble banana is actually an ADHD superfood, as it's high in magnesium, fiber, potassium, and vitamin B6.
Why do ADHD people crave sweets? ›
Sugar and other high carb foods boost dopamine levels in the brain, leading us to crave them more often when dopamine levels are low. Since children with ADHD have chronically low levels of dopamine, they are more likely than other children to crave and eat sugary or carbohydrate-heavy foods.
What foods are good for ADHD brain? ›
A high-protein diet.
Beans, cheese, eggs, meat, and nuts can be good sources of protein. Eat these kinds of foods in the morning and for after-school snacks. It may improve concentration and possibly make ADHD medications work longer.
What is ADHD stimming? ›
ADHD stimming is when a person with ADHD displays self-stimulatory behavior by repeating certain sounds and movements unconsciously. There are many different examples, including lip biting, rocking back and forth, humming, teeth grinding, or chewing gum.
What is a dopamine menu for ADHD kids? ›
A dopamine menu lists an assortment of pleasurable, healthy activities — from appetizers like yoga poses to main courses like a HIIT class to sides like white noise — from which ADHD brains can choose when they need stimulation. Your brain is a Tesla. When its battery becomes depleted, it needs to stop and recharge.
Individuals with ADHD tend to seek out intense experiences and find boredom very uncomfortable. They may create stimulation such as fidgeting, laughter, conflict or noise if none is available. People with ADHD may pursue pleasurable rewards as a form of self-medication.
What not to give a child with ADHD? ›
Refined sugar. Dairy. Artificial preservatives. Each of these may lead to increase hyperactivity, decreased focus, and other health and behavior complications in some children with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD).
What juice is good for ADHD kids? ›
Juicing for ADHD involves consuming freshly made organic fruit and vegetable juices made from ingredients like:
- carrots.
- spinach.
- kale.
- apples.
- celery.
A high-protein diet.
Beans, cheese, eggs, meat, and nuts can be good sources of protein. Eat these kinds of foods in the morning and for after-school snacks. It may improve concentration and possibly make ADHD medications work longer.
What foods do people with ADHD crave? ›
Symptoms like impulsivity make us more prone to give in to cravings for high-fat, high-sugar foods. And the dopamine rush we get from carbohydrates and sweets becomes addictive; it feels as if our brain needs that grilled cheese sandwich.
What are good snacks for people on Adderall? ›
If dinner was skipped, try for a favorite meal item. Otherwise, a high calorie snack such as peanut butter or cheese on toast or crackers, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, tortillas with guacamole, ice cream, or any favorite wholesome snack will work.
Is peanut butter good for ADHD? ›
Everydayhealth.com has developed a list of suggested snack foods for children with ADHD. Snacks include fruits, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on whole wheat bread, dried fruit, vegetables, humus spread on pitas, and whole wheat crackers or whole wheat pretzels. Nuts are also encouraged.
