8 Best Brain Foods For Kids To Excel In School
Young Parents Singapore|January 2019

When it comes to improving brain function, memory, focus and concentration, some foods are better than others, say nutrition experts. Here’s how to serve them so your kids can get the most nutrients out of them.

Sasha Gonzales
8 Best Brain Foods For Kids To Excel In School

Eggs

Brain benefits Egg yolks are an important source of choline, which is essential for brain and memory function, says Dr Han Wee Meng, head and senior principal dietician of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

“Choline is a key component of cell membranes and this accounts for a high percentage of brain mass,” she explains.

“It’s also essential in the formation of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which carries messages to and from nerves.”

Cook it right As choline is sensitive to water and may be destroyed by cooking and food processing, you should avoid overcooking eggs, Dr Han says. (But, it’s important to remember that eating raw eggs isn’t safe, either).

Other choline-rich foods include broccoli, beans, peanuts and bananas.

The best and easiest ways to enjoy eggs are hard-boiled, scrambled, or as omelettes, says Pooja Vig, a functional medicine nutritionist at The Nutrition Clinic.

Add veggies like tomatoes and spinach to the omelette for extra nutrients.

Lean meats

Brain benefits “Lean meats are rich sources of minerals like zinc and iron,” Dr Han says.

“Zinc forms an integral part of the structure that regulates communication between nerve channels, and a low zinc level has been shown to lead to faulty memory.

“Iron helps supply oxygen to the brain and is also in the dopaminergic pathways (these are routes through the brain by which dopamine, a neurotransmitter, is spread to a range of different destinations in the brain).

“Iron deficiency is associated with cognitive and attention deficit.”

Cook it right “There is no apparent loss of minerals when cooking meat,” Dr Han says.

Denne historien er fra January 2019-utgaven av Young Parents Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra January 2019-utgaven av Young Parents Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA YOUNG PARENTS SINGAPORESe alt
Everything You Need To Know About Direct School Admission
Young Parents Singapore

Everything You Need To Know About Direct School Admission

If your kid is good at sports, music or has other talents, the DSA programme may be his key to getting into an elite secondary school or specialised school. Here’s what you should know about the process.

time-read
6 mins  |
March - April 2019
What Is The Right CCA For Your Primary School Kid?
Young Parents Singapore

What Is The Right CCA For Your Primary School Kid?

Co-curricular activities (CCAs) aren’t just frivolous frills. They teach kids important life skills that can’t be found in a classroom lesson. EVELINE GAN finds out how to select the right one for your child.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2019
Why You Shouldn't Let PSLE Stress Take Over Your Kid's Life
Young Parents Singapore

Why You Shouldn't Let PSLE Stress Take Over Your Kid's Life

PSLE preparations start in Primary 5, which means a high-pressure two years for your family. Here's how to support your child so they can do their best.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2019
Should Your Kid Skip A Vaccine Shot?
Young Parents Singapore

Should Your Kid Skip A Vaccine Shot?

Vaccinations are a rite of passage for every Singaporean child, but what if your kid is sick before an appointment, or misses a booster dose? Find out the answers to these and other pressing questions.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2019
Separation Anxiety, Bullies And Other Preschool Blues
Young Parents Singapore

Separation Anxiety, Bullies And Other Preschool Blues

Preschool is rarely a smooth journey for children. Sasha Gonzales asks the experts how to handle the most common dilemmas, from separation anxiety to having trouble making new friends.

time-read
8 mins  |
January 2019
Is Your Kid Stressed About Starting School This Year?
Young Parents Singapore

Is Your Kid Stressed About Starting School This Year?

School kids in Singapore are more stressed than their peers overseas. If your kid is feeling the pressure, here’s how to find what's triggering his anxiety – and how to help.

time-read
5 mins  |
January 2019
Speech Problems In Singapore Kids: When Should You Worry?
Young Parents Singapore

Speech Problems In Singapore Kids: When Should You Worry?

How can you help your little one get over his stuttering? Should you worry that your tot doesn’t speak as well or isn’t as talkative as his cousin? Sasha Gonzales polls the experts on the pressing speech and language issues in toddlers and preschoolers here.

time-read
8 mins  |
March - April 2019
The Most Common Learning Difficulties In Singapore Kids
Young Parents Singapore

The Most Common Learning Difficulties In Singapore Kids

Struggling to read, write or count is a common problem for many children, but how do you know when that struggle is actually a learning difficulty or disability? Sasha Gonzales asked three experts to tell us what signs to look out for and when to know to get help.

time-read
9 mins  |
March - April 2019
Can You Really Un-Spoil Your Child?
Young Parents Singapore

Can You Really Un-Spoil Your Child?

Yes, there are ways to turn things around – without losing your temper. Here, the experts share strategies you can use in common bratty situations.

time-read
8 mins  |
March - April 2019
Bottoms Up!
Young Parents Singapore

Bottoms Up!

Using cloth nappies helps save the Earth – and your wallet, too, say these mums who choose not to put their babies in disposable diapers.

time-read
5 mins  |
October 2017