Introduction

“Wake up Steve!”, Ms Teo shouted from the front of the classroom. This is the third time Steve had to be told to wake up during the class. He can’t help it. He’s really tired.

His sleeping in class is not because the class is boring. Yet Steve finds himself drowsy, sleepy and tired in class no matter how he tries to keep himself up. Not only that, every now and then, he is absent with a cold or the flu.

• Has your child ever felt tired and lethargic in school, like Steve?
• Does he get sick easily?
• Does he love fast foods and sweet snacks?
• Are veggies his doom?
• Does he skip his breakfast?

If you said yes to any of the above, then this series is perfect for you!

Imagine having your child wake up fresh and alert, paying attention and getting terrific grades at the end of the term. No, it's not only about studying hard, the biggest secret is in eating smart! 

LearnSuperMart and Celebrity Nutritionist - Suria Sparks, will be sharing with you 5 Super Foods your child should be taking this school term so that he has a better chance to attain the Super Grades that he has always be vying for!

 

---

 

Who is Suria Sparks?

 

Suria Sparks (or Suria Mohd which many people know her by) was a former school teacher who quit her job to pursue her passion in entrepreneurship.

She is a certified nutritionist who went on to become a celebrity with her own 16-episode Suria TV and Channel News Asia segment on weight loss and natural healing. 

In addition to her expertise in nutrition, she is also a loving mom who strongly advocates positive parenting. And one of the aspects of positive parenting is her discipline to ensure her children take the right food. 

Suria's daughter has always been a top student who aces in her exams! I found out that her PSLE T-score was nearly 270! Her younger son has also been scoring top marks in class for most of his subjects. Besides being smart, they have also been healthy. in their teens now, both of Suria's children have never been on any anti-biotics over the last 15 to 16 years!

When I asked what her secrets are, she explained that they lie in the Super Foods that they had been taking. 

I managed to ply 5 of these secret Super Foods from Suria, and I felt I have the responsibility to share these with you!

 

---

 

Super Food 1 - What to Eat for the Power Breakfast?

 

First, do not skip breakfast!

Breakfast helps improve mental performance and concentration during morning activities. Children
who skip breakfast will be more slugging, less attentive and have less energy to carry out their
morning tasks.

Studies have shown that breakfast eaters perform much better in their school work and show extra energy in sports and other physical activities. Besides assuring optimal development and growth, positive effects on alertness, attention, performance on standardized achievement tests and other skills important for academic success are enhanced for those who eat breakfast on a daily basis.

The key is in what your child should take for breakfast to eventually get the Super Grades that he so rightly deserves. 

Oatmeal is a simple but great breakfast for children. It is filled with soluble fiber, keeping your child full for the long school hours. Oats are also high in protein, which supports your growth and development.

Here's a simple Oatmeal Breakfast recipe to help your child start the day right.

In a bowl of oats, add any fresh or dried fruits such as strawberries, peaches, blueberries, raisins, figs. Then add a handful of chopped walnuts, topped with a teaspoon of honey with cinnamon. 

That's it! It's so simple to prepare, but the amount of goodness in this is amazingly tremendous. Have a try tomorrow morning!

 

---

 

Super Food 2 - What to Eat to Boost Your Child's Brain?

 

Imagine how your child would feel if you gave him something he loves for his birthday. That would just make his day, wouldn’t it? Well, that is how his brain would be too if he gives it what it loves every day. His brain will be so happy it will be tuned up and ready to absorb whatever he learns in school, just like a sponge!

So what makes his brain feel more efficient? Foods that are packed with Omega-3’s essential fatty acids. These are critical for brain function. One experiment (Yehuda, S. 2005) found that taking a combination of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids reduced test anxiety in students and improved their mental concentration.

Some foods that are a great source of Omega-3 fats are salmon, tuna (make sure your tuna is mercury free though), walnuts, and seeds.

There is a seed called Mila - a proprietary blend of the popular super food Chia Seeds, whose plant-based source of Omega-3 is off the charts! 

Flax Seeds are also good. In addition to the rich Omega-3 content, these are also a great source of fiber (to help your child go to the toilet easily and keep your bowels movement healthy). Ground Flax Seeds or Flax Seed Oil are other forms which also helps those who suffer from dry eyes.

Here is a simple recipe that uses Ground Flax Seeds to boost your child's brain. 

Blend all these until smooth: 1 cup of Greek yogurt, 1 cup of Almond Milk or Organic Coconut Milk, 1 Banana + 1 Peach, Ground Flax Seeds, and Raw Honey.

PS: Email me to find out where Suria recommends to get the best Chia and Flax Seeds.

---

Dear parent, 

Do you want to give your child the extra edge to attain the super grades you have always been dreaming of. 

Discover the secret to achieving better grades by just switching the foods your give your child. Find out how you can do so here.

---

Super Food 3 - What is the Energy Snack to have? 

 

Does your child get hungry often in the middle of the day or while studying? Does he then snack away on donuts, ice cream, chocolates, sweets or chips? But after that, he still ends up hungry and feels even more tired? This is what is called the Energy Crash!

This how his blood sugar affects his body after he eats a lot of sugary food.

So, what should he be snacking on instead so that he can feel full, have his brain charged up and his body kept on energetic mode? 

Here’s some examples of great Energy Snacks.

High-grain muesli bar, low fat yogurt, mixed unsalted nuts (almonds, cashews, or walnuts), banana muffins and fruit smoothies! Yum!

And if he loves bananas, spread some almond butter on it and roll it in crushed nuts! His brain and
body will thank you for this energy boost!

Another Super Food as an Energy Snack is Blueberries. These delicious berries have one of the highest antioxidants count and antioxidants are great protection for the brains. They can be eaten frozen or made into smoothies or added to breakfast oats. Researchers at the University of Reading have found that eating blueberries improves both short and long-term memory (Whyte, A. & Williams, C. 2014).

However, due to the amount of pesticides in fruits and vegetables these days, you would want to ensure you eat fruits and vegetables that are organic, or at least cleaned using a Food Washing Machine (bet you didn't know there are such gadgets). This can clean the pesticides residue off from the fruits.

 

---

 

Super Food 4 - What is the Miracle Drink to have? 

 

Over 70 percent of our body is composed of water and every function in the body is dependent
on water, including supporting our memory, attention and focus.

According to Dr Corinne Allen, Founder of the Advanced Learning and Development institute, brain cells need 2 times more energy than other cells in the body. And what other Miracle Drink than just the humble Water is sufficient to provide this energy most effectively!

When your child's brain is functioning on a full reserve of water, he will be able to think faster, be more focused and experience greater clarity and creativity, which will help him in his studies!

Studies have shown that if his brain drops 2% in body water, he will suffer from loss of memory and also have trouble focusing, especially in Math.

Water that has been purified also helps to deliver nutrients to the brain, nourishing the brain and also remove toxins from the body - thus helping your child to be healthier and more alert and focused.

Remind your child to drink at least 1.5L to 2.5L of clean purified water a day eight. Bring a BPA-Free water bottle to school and drink before he is thirsty. During his study time or in school, take sips of water every now and then. It will be best to have some water in his body every half an hour to an hour to help him stay hydrated.

And it is important to ensure that he drinks only purified water from a certified water purifier source. If you hate to stock up on purified water from the supermarket, there are certain water purifiers that Suria recommends acquiring that do the job better and even cheaper in the long run.

 

---

 

Super Food 5 - The Super Supplement of the Century!

 

This is none other than the Organic Spirulina - the Super Food King of the 21st century!

1 gram of Spirulina contains the essential vitamins equivalent to 1000g of common fruits and vegetables!

It is nature's super multi-vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, protein, good fats and antioxidants all rolled into one tiny package! Spirulina is 100% safe for children of all ages.

It is also the only natural Super Food that contains GLA - a type of essential fatty acids that is only 
found in mother's milk! This helps to keep the body in good health.

What's more? It is 100% alkalizing and also provides the balanced nutrients that your child's body needs to function optimally.

My kids and I have been consuming this amazing Super Food daily, just as prescribed by Suria. Spirulina comes in various forms and brands out there. On her recommendation, I have been using a selected #1 award-winning Organic Spirulina brand. Email me if you want to know how to purchase this or the pricing.

Trust me on this one. If your child is picky on food, gets sick easily or doesn't like to take the current platter of supplements you give him, this Super Supplement solves all those issues and more!

 

---

 

Keeping Track with a Food Diary

 

I don't deny it will be difficult to let your child start on all the 5 Super Foods we shared in the past week immediately. It is ok to start with one of the 5 first. For me, I have started my kids on the Spirulina supplements for a few weeks now.

But even when your child has started to try these foods, it is crucial to maintain the routine. Keeping track of what he eats using a Food Diary works wonders. 

Since many parents still have some form of control over what their children eat throughout the day, writing down what they eat for the day is entirely possible. Besides, this gives younger children a suggestion of what they should be eating in school (they tend to follow suggestions better).

There are many ways to keep track of what your child eats using a Food Diary. You can list the foods down on paper or use any the related app. The important thing is for your child to note down how he feels 30 min to 1 hour after taking the Super Foods. 

When this is done consistently for around 2 weeks, he can correlate the effects of the Super Food he ate and thank those food and you for it.

Suria shared that your child should see a transformation in just a few days after taking these Super Foods (and waning off the junk food). Personally, I think it is ok to indulge in some "comfort" food once a week. Take it as a Cheat or Reward Day, but try hard not to do it more than this.

---

Dear parent, 

Do you want to give your child the extra edge to attain the super grades you have always been dreaming of. 

Discover the secret to achieving better grades by just switching the foods your give your child. Find out how you can do so here.