Toddler Trouble? Try this!

Are you having behavior issues with your child? It might be the foods they are eating.

There has been mounting research that food additives and preservatives can increase negative behavior in children. Schools that have taken out preservatives, artificial colorings, and additives have reported significant drops in behavior issues, fighting, attention issues and more.

So what can you do? Mainly, we as parents just need to feed our kids foods with as little "processing" as possible. And YES it can be just as easy as reaching into a box...

Snack ideas:

Diced ham or turkey cubes
String cheese
Cut up fruit
Veggies

The key is to cut up everything when you get home from the store before you even put it away and put it into little pre-portioned snack containers or baggies. That way if you are running out the door, or your child decides with a SCREAM that they are hungry, you can just grab and go. 

The best part- it doesn't hurt to try. If your child regularly has meltdowns, is moody, has short attention spans or any other unwanted behavior- you can change the foods they eat and see if that makes a difference. I normally always recommend you check with your doctor before any food change, but this is a change any doctor will stand behind. And- if it does not help with your child's behavior, at least they will be healthy little crazies!

Check out some of these articles for evidence about how eliminating additives and processed foods changes behavior in children.

Diet and Behavior in Children

Food Additives & Behavior

Food Affects Behavior

If you find other articles or resources on this topic- please leave a comment. This is a very interesting topic and I am sure much more research will come out on these issues.