Eating for success

Fish food
Fish is believed to improve brainpower. This is because of the high levels of omega fatty acids within the fish that help the brain develop. These special fats are also important for healthy bright eyes. Oily fish such as salmon are rich in omega fatty acids and perfect for including in kids' lunchboxes.

Overweight
Weight problems and obesity amongst children are on the increase. Thirty one per cent of children are overweight and a worrying 17 per cent obese.³ Prevention is often easier than cure. Here are some pointers to help guard against weight gain in children:

• Parents should set a good example. The most common form of obesity is from inherited behaviour.
• Reduce the availability of high-sugar, high-fat snacks. Instead, try to encourage snacking on healthier options such as fruit, nuts and cereals.
• Encourage physical activity such as playing football, swimming and other sports - or even just walking or riding a bike to school.
• Encourage the consumption of a wide variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, bread, low-fat dairy products, meat, fish, pasta and rice.
• Start the day with a good breakfast. Research shows that children who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight than their counterparts who skip breakfast.⁴

References
¹Pollitt et al (1995), Does Breakfast Make A Difference In School?Journal of the American Dietetic Association 95: 1134-1139
²Smith A, Bazzoni C, Beale J, Elliot-Smith J and Tiley M, High Fibre Breakfast Cereals Reduce Fatigue, Appetite, 2001; 37, 1-3
³Reilly J and Dorosty A (1999), Epidemic Of Obesity In UK Children, The Lancet, 354: 1874-75
⁴Gibson and O'Sullivan (1995), Breakfast cereal consumption patterns and nutrient intakes of British schoolchildren, Journal of the Royal Society of Health 115: 336-370

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