Better Nutrition September2020

Photo: (top right) adobestock.com
Boost mood. An unfamiliar
routine and isolation from friends can
leave kids feeling lonely, moody, and
depressed—especially teens, for whom
peer support is essential. In one survey
by the American Civil Liberties Union
of Southern California, more than half
of respondents said they were in need
of mental health support since school
closures began in mid-March. Students
also rated their mental health on a
scale of 1 to 10, and 23 percent rated
their mental health a 3 or lower—more
than triple the number of respondents
who rated their mental health that low
before the pandemic began.
To support your kid’s mood and mental
health, keep the lines of communication
open. Have frank, age-appropriate
conversations around Covid-19 and how
your children may be feeling. Maintain
your daily routine as much as possible:
get dressed and have breakfast with the
family at your usual time, have dinner
together, and emphasize after-dinner
activities such as playing games or going
for a walk together. Minimize TV and
video games to give your kids a break
from screens, and encourage teens to
keep in touch with friends via phone
calls instead of social media. Also try
omega-3, vitamin D3, and probiotic
supplements to boost mood.
Back-to-school
essentials: Doctor’s
Best Vitamin D3
Kids Gummies;
Kyolic Kyo-
Dophilus Kids
Probiotic; Country
Life Omega 3 Mood.
Reduce stress. Worries about
Covid-19, economic concerns from
parents losing jobs, and ongoing
uncertainty can impact kids, especially
high school juniors and seniors who may
be wondering what their college years
will look like. And frustrations with
online learning—unfamiliar platforms,
issues with technology, household
distractions, and fears about falling behind
academically—only add to anxiety.
To mitigate stress, talk openly with
kids about their fears and come up with
action plans to address what you can.
Make online learning less stressful by
upgrading your internet service, giving
each kid a dedicated computer or laptop
if possible, keeping pets quiet during
school hours, and making sure all family
members are respectful of learning
time. Encourage kids to exercise and
practice deep breathing. Even a simple
two-minute belly breathing practice
can soothe emotions and calm anxiety.
Stress-soothing supplements such as
L-theanine, chamomile, passionflower,
and B vitamins can offer extra support.
Back-to-school essentials:
KAL Children’s
Relax-A-Saurus
L-Theanine Blend;
Good Day Chocolate
Calm for Kids;
MegaFoods Kids B
Complex.
Focus on physical health.
During a normal school day, kids get
plenty of movement from after-school
sports, physical education, and even
transitioning between classes and
activities. But online learning means
kids are more sedentary, impacting
mood, sleep, and concentration. Plus,
being at home all day means more
opportunity for mindless snacking.
Encourage kids to make movement
a priority because being physically active
enhances brain health and cognition,
increases concentration and attention,
and improves mood. Set alarms for
breaks between online classes, and
encourage kids to step away from their
study space and get moving, ideally,
outside. Try a walk in the park, an
afternoon bike ride, rollerblading, or a
jog around the block. Even dancing or
doing jumping jacks in the back yard can
improve mood and focus. And keep your
kitchen stocked with healthy munchies
such as hummus, yogurt, almond butter,
cheese, guacamole, fresh fruit, and plenty
of good-for-you packaged snacks.
Back-to-school essentials: Bearitos
Baked Veggie Puffs;
Biena Baked Chickpea
Puffs; Bitsy’s
Smart Crackers;
RX Kids bars;
KIND Kids Chewy
Granola Bars.
SEPTEMBER 2020 • 35