Starting school after a long time (both online or in person), learning different subjects and then having to take tests can be quite stressful for both children, and adults. 

You may be interested to learn that, in order for us to have the best chance at academic success, we need to feed our brain and body the superfuel they need. And, this type of fuel comes in different forms: as high quality smart food, supplements and mindfulness practices. 

Smart foods are nutritious foods that help maximize our health and brainpower by improving our diet. Nutritional studies have consistently proven that there is a direct link between our stress levels, emotional well-being, attention span, learning capacity, and our daily diet. 

You may already be aware of the negative effect of certain foods, like sugary snacks, on your child’s behavior, happiness, intelligence and health. It does, however, have the same impact on you, as an adult. 

While changing our diet can be quite challenging (and stressful at times!) it is important that we learn more about how different foods, their quality and how different cooking methods (i.e. steaming versus frying foods) affect us. 

Furthermore, breaking free from years of cultural conditioning and clever marketing is tricky, but crucial. Making these smarter choices and managing our stress levels will undoubtedly help boost our chances at success at school, our overall happiness, and that of our children. Eating healthy foods that build the brain maximizes our potential academically, socially and ultimately enhance our relationships with others. 

As you prepare for your new GED academic courses and career adventures, it would be most helpful to get a headstart when it comes to your nutrition. Creating a sustainable smart food culture at home, and encouraging each member of your family to try fresh foods of all colors of the rainbow (fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs) that fuel your bodies and brains  will undoubtedly help you be calmer, more focused, to learn quicker, have more energy, lose weight, and have better moods and quality of sleep. 

Here are some tips to help you gain the most from your learning experience as a GED student. Be sure to include your family members, so that they reap the rewards and benefits too!

  • Drink up to 8 cups of filtered water daily 
  • Practice deep breathing exercises to help manage anxiety
  • Smell your favorite (pure) essential oils – lavender and rose oils are quite helpful when you’re feeling stressed!
  • Incorporate structured exercise on most days and get some sunshine
  • Eat a wider variety of unprocessed foods – all colors of the rainbow!
  • Starting cutting sugar and caffeine from your diet
  • Smart foods = new, healthy  foods & new ways to prepare them
  • Eat organic fruits and veggies and grass fed meats as far as possible. Farmer’s markets are great! Although they may not be certified organic, you can ask them whether their produce is organic. Most of them are, however the Organic Certification process can be expensive for many farmers.
  • Choose Low GL (Glycemic Load) foods to balance your blood glucose. High GL foods will spike your blood sugar, give you a quick boost of energy, then crash. This cycle will ultimately affect your health, ability to concentrate, and your weight.
  • Start your day with a good protein-packed breakfast
  • Try new, healthy recipes in the kitchen with your kids. Have fun and teach them as you do so!

A child’s brain and nutritional needs are similar to an adult’s therefore dietary recommendations are good for the whole family. It gets a bit of getting used to, but the results are worth it. Do the best you can. Your future depends on it.