Have you ever watched your child devour an entire bag of Doritos during homework time? Or had to forcibly remove the candy dish from the hands of a child who was cramming for a test? I used to think that my kid was just using food as a distraction from the homework, but I’ve been proven wrong. It turns out that food actually feeds the brain, though candy and Doritos aren’t good choices.
Carbohydrates are what kids need for maintaining focus while studying. The brain requires glucose (blood sugar) to stay in focus and attentive. The brain also uses glucose as fuel (energy). Candy, sweets, and chips provide quick bursts of energy that fade just as quickly. Slowly absorbed carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables and grains offer longer lasting mental energy and clarity. These types of carbohydrate healthy foods also provide a slight boost to the bodies’ serotonin level, which has a calming effect. This is very helpful for kids who tend to feel stressed by homework and teachers, and tests.
http://health.kaboose.com/nutrition/snacks.html has some tasty suggestions for study treats that will feed your kids brain.