How to improve behaviour and emotional challenges for a picky eater

Working with over 100 parents a year as a Feeding Advisor, I am always looking for ways to support parents with information that will enable them to make informed decisions about their child’s eating, look at goals and then gift them the strategies to make that a reality.

There is a tonne of information about optimal diets out in the ether, and I am always in two minds about sharing it. On the one hand education is power, on the other, knowing that we could be feeding our child “better” but not being able to do so can be very stressful. I am therefore always cautious about what I share.

In this case this is information that I delved into in a nutrition course I took a few years ago, focused on children’s brain development. Studies showed that increasing certain nutrient intakes had an impact on behaviour, especially for those who had challenges with emotional regulation. In fact, there were specific nutrients that seemed to be missing for children with, for example, ADHD and that a child with the same nutrient deficiencies may mimic some of the same symptoms seen.

Omega 3’s

This latest study focuses on Omega 3’s and how they can make a difference to children who are challenged by inattention, nervousness, hyperactivity etc. …