It’s widely understood that proper nutrition is essential for brain development.  For children, the positive impact of a healthful and varied diet stems far beyond this – it contributes to improved focus, concentration, and ultimately supports learning potential and academic achievement.  In the United States, 1 in 8 children are at risk for hunger, putting them at a severe disadvantage in a school setting.¹ Evidence suggests children that do not receive sufficient nutrition are at high risk for exhibiting impaired cognitive skills, including low attention spans, and are more likely to have behavioral deficits.² In order to help children get the nutrients they need to thrive academically, it’s important to understand the connection between brain health and learning, in addition to addressing the interconnected and complex issues that impact learning outcomes, such as accessibility and food insecurity.  

The Impact of Diet on Brain Function in Children
The brain is the most complex part of the human and controls a myriad of body functions and senses including memory, thought, emotion, motor skills and hunger.  Throughout one’s lifetime, food and nutrition are essential in the maintenance of brain performance, and aid in the treatment of mental disorders.  Good nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood, specifically between a woman’s pregnancy and roughly to a child’s second birthday, are critical for a child’s brain development. During this period of rapid brain growth, nutrients are necessary for the creation of neurons, which are the cells that send and receive signals from the brain; the formation of myelin, the fatty matter that covers axons which accelerate the speed of nerve impulses traveling between cells; and synapses which support learning ability. During this time, referred to as the “first 1,000 days of life”, the brain grows more quickly than at any other time in a human’s life and requires key nutrients to feed the brain’s rapid development.³ There are eight vital key nutrients that play a specific role throughout this time.  This includes carotenoids (lutein + zeaxanthin), choline, folate, iodine, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D. Other nutrients for maternal, newborn, and toddler health include protein, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamins B, and other trace minerals.^3,4

While these first few years of life are a critical period for brain growth and development, it’s important to keep in mind that a child’s brain continues to develop through adolescence.  For this reason, adequate nutrition, and overall diet quality, remain important in supporting various brain functions that directly affect learning outcomes. Inadequate intake of calories, protein, fatty acids, and micronutrients disrupt these neurodevelopmental processes.⁵ Additionally, diets with low consumptions of nutrient-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, and high intakes of highly processed and sugar-laden foods, has been linked to poor cognition and academic achievement.

According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, developed collaboratively by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), nutritional recommendations for calories, macro- and micronutrients are categorized by age groups, starting at age two, and gender (starting from age four and up). The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is a standard reference for macro- and micro-nutrient needs for children.⁶ However, since there is no single nutrient that could improve a child’s brain health, maintaining a diet varied in foods is important to ensure a variety of nutrients are consumed. Adequate intake of all nutrients including protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water is essential for brain structure and formation. However, micronutrients, such as iron, zinc, choline, iodine, folate, B12, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) have been identified to be particularly relevant to cognitive development.⁷

Nutrition & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is one of the most common neurological disorders in children and is a condition that makes it difficult to concentrate, pay attention, sit in one place, follow directions, and control impulsive behaviors.  There is no specific diet to manage symptoms of ADHD and reported associations between ADHD and a single nutrient are inconsistent. However, there is growing evidence linking essential dietary nutrients to ADHD.

One systemic review and meta-analysis of six dietary patterns and six foods or macronutrient studies in children, published in the journal Clinical Nutrition ESPEN.  The data revealed that a “healthy” dietary pattern consisting of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and fish was protectively related with ADHD, whereas a “Western” dietary pattern, containing high amounts of sweets, red meat, refined grains, processed meats, soft drinks, and hydrogenated fats, was related to an increased risk of ADHD and an exacerbation of symptoms in children diagnosed with ADHD.⁸  Note that while sugar may lead to an increase in energy levels, studies have revealed there is no association between sugar consumption and incidence or cause of ADHD.⁹

Short-acting medicines for ADHD can aid in focus and self-regulation, but often may act as an appetite suppressant decreasing their intrinsic desire to eat and potentially putting them at risk for impaired growth. Children that take the medication at breakfast tend to lose their appetite by lunchtime. Once the medication wears off and appetite picks back up, children are more likely to binge on foods or eat later than usual.¹⁰ Poor appetite and inadequate nutrition can further impact a child with ADHD – from their ability to learn in the classroom to their behavior and overall sense of well-being.  It’s important for a pediatric team of healthcare professionals to develop strategies with families, such as an eating schedule, to ensure children are adequately meeting calorie and nutrient needs.

How Healthcare Professionals Can Make a Difference
Healthcare professionals, especially those in a pediatric setting, can advocate for greater food security and improved health for children and their families.  This includes screening patients and their families for food insecurity, recommending appropriate interventions, and when appropriate referring families to federal nutrition programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women (WIC).  Furthermore, educating families on their child(ren)’s nutritional needs is important.  Providing this information along with simple and budget-friendly ways to include nutrient-dense foods in a child’s daily diet regimen are great ways to ensure children are fueled for learning. 

Here are some simple food and snack ideas to help fuel young minds, shared by registered dietitian, mom, and Orgain Nutrition Advisory Board member, Alison Tierney, MS, RD, CD, CSO:

1. “Rushed mornings often lead to less-than-ideal breakfast choices, like eating on the commute or skipping it altogether. To improve focus and concentration in school, providing a nourishing meal at the table is crucial. As a mom of two busy kids, my favorite solution is to take the morning prep work out of it. Choose easy to freeze meals ahead of time for quick re-heating! Waffles, muffins, and breakfast cookies that could be stored in the freezer and defrosted are great options!
   
2. It can be tough to include dark, leafy greens into a child’s diet. Greens such as spinach, kale, and lettuce contain brain protecting nutrients, especially folate. Adding greens to a smoothie is a simple way to include those important nutrients. Instead of hiding the greens, have your child help you make the smoothie by putting a handful of spinach into the mix.
   
3. Berries are linked to better brain health and can enhance children’s cognitive function. Encourage your kids to join meal prep by letting them wash berries and de-stem strawberries using safe nylon knives and a kitchen standing tower. You might even catch them enjoying the berries as they work!”
   

The Orgain Kids portfolio of nutrition products includes a variety of delicious ready-to-drink shakes and powders to support growing children. Here are some of Orgain’s best-selling products and nutritional highlights for consideration with pediatric patients:     

Orgain Kids Protein Nutrition Shake Mix– NEW

• Available in Vanilla Bean and Chocolate Brownie
• Organic Fruit & Vegetable Blend
• Gluten Free and Soy Free
• No Artificial Colors or Flavors
• 35% less sugar than the leading Kids Shake Mix
• Nutritional highlights per 2-scoop serving:
  • 180 calories
  • 8g Grass-Fed Dairy Protein
  • 4g Dietary Fiber
  • 22-23 Vitamins and Minerals*

*Varies based on flavor

Orgain Kids Protein Organic Nutritional Shake 

• Available in Vanilla, Chocolate & Strawberry 
• Organic Fruit & Vegetable Blend
• Non-GMO, Gluten Free, and Soy Free
• No Artificial Colors or Flavors
• Nutritional highlights per 8-oz. container:
  • 180 calories
  • 8g Grass-Fed Dairy Protein
  • 22 Vitamins & Minerals
  • 3g Dietary Fiber

Orgain Kids Plant Protein Organic Nutritional Shake 

• Available in Vanilla & Chocolate
• Non-GMO, Gluten Free, and Soy Free
• Organic Fruit & Vegetable Blend
• No Artificial Colors or Flavors
• Nutritional highlights per 8-oz. container:
  • 200 calories
  • 8g Plant Protein
  • 23 Vitamins & Minerals
  • 3g Dietary Fiber

Learn More with Orgain
To further support your knowledge of the relationship between nutrition and brain health, plus nutritional strategies that could lead to improved academic performance in children, check out these other Orgain-sponsored educational resources:

The Good Clean Nutrition Podcast
Episode 2: The Power of Family Mealtime: Barriers, Benefits and Strategies for Eating Together with Jill Castle, MS, RDN

Episode 11: Brain Food – Exploring the Gut-Brain Axis with Uma Naidoo, MD

Science-Based Briefs
Feeding the Gut-Brain Connection

Rethink Family Meals: Tips & Strategies with Jill Castle, MS, RDN

Allergy Friendly Meal Planning with Colleen Webb, MS, RDN

Professional Education Webinar Series 
Offers 1 CPEU for RDNs and NDTRs!

Pediatric Nutrition Breakthroughs: 5 Advances Every Practitioner Should Know; Presented by Jill Castle, MS, RD

First 1,000 Days of Life: Relationship Between Early Life Nutrition and Future Health Outcomes; Presented by Nicole Avena, PhD

References:

1. Hunger deprives our kids of more than just food. Feeding America. https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/child-hunger-facts
2. Roberts, M., Tolar-Peterson, T., & Reynolds, A., et al. (2022). The effects of nutritional interventions on the cognitive development of preschool-age children: A systematic review. Nutrients, 14(3), 532. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030532
3. Nutrition in the first 1,000 Days. https://www.thousanddays.org/wp-content/uploads/1000Days-Nutrition_Brief_Brain-Think_Babies_FINAL.pdf
4. Likhar, A., & Patil, M. S. (2022). Importance of maternal nutrition in the first 1,000 Days of life and its effects on Child development: A narrative review. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30083
5. Naveed, S., Lakka, T., & Haapala, E. A. (2020). An overview on the associations between health behaviors and Brain Health in children and adolescents with special reference to Diet Quality. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3), 953. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030953  
6. Dietary guidelines for Americans. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf  
7. Roberts, M., Tolar-Peterson, T., Reynolds, A., Wall, C., Reeder, N., & Rico Mendez, G. (2022). The effects of nutritional interventions on the cognitive development of preschool-age children: A systematic review. Nutrients, 14(3), 532. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030532  
8. Shareghfarid, E., Sangsefidi, Z. S., Salehi-Abargouei, A., et al. (2020). Empirically derived dietary patterns and food groups intake in relation with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 36, 28–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2019.10.013  
9. Del-Ponte, B., Anselmi, L., & Assunção, M. C. (2019). Sugar consumption and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A birth cohort study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 243, 290–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.051  
10. Side effects of ADHD medication. Child Mind Institute. (2023, April 14). https://childmind.org/article/side-effects-of-adhd-medication/