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When it comes to food and snacks, my 10-year-old daughter, Natalie, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), and I look for different things. Natalie wants to eat brightly colored food shaped like a Disney or Nickelodeon character that comes in a cool package. To help her stick to good eating habits, I look at boring ingredients lists and nutritional information. Intent on ADHD-proofing her diet, I avoid foods that contain artificial colors and sweeteners (and preservatives), and seek out ones with healthy levels of iron, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids, as well as protein and fiber to regulate her blood sugar levels.
Luckily, I’ve discovered some tasty products that Natalie and I see eye to eye on.
Snacks That Are Low on the Bad Stuff, High on the Good Stuff
Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks
These look and taste like artificially colored and flavored snacks, but they contain no dyes, additives, or preservatives. They’re certified organic, made with real fruit juice, and they have 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. The colorful, bunny-shaped treats are packaged in individual pouches, like other brands of fruit snacks, so our kids can eat like their buddies while remaining chemical-free. To find a store that carries them, visit Annies.com.
Stonyfield Organic YoKids Squeezer
Although Yoplait now offers Simply Go-Gurt -- a more natural version of its market-leading product, Go-Gurt -- Stonyfield Organic YoKids is our pick among single-serve yogurts, because of its commitment to the big O. YoKids organic yogurt comes in portable, squeezable tubes and doesn’t contain preservatives, artificial colors or flavors, gelatin, or high fructose corn syrup. While yogurt marketed to kids is often sickeningly sweet, YoKids contains 25 percent less sugar than leading kids’ brands. Most major supermarket chains carry Stonyfield yogurt, but if yours doesn’t, go to Stonyfield.com.
Barilla Plus Pasta
Pasta made from white flour isn’t ideal for kids with ADD/ADHD. The rule in my house is, The higher the fiber in a food, the better it is for my daughter’s hyperactivity -- and my stress levels. Barilla Plus pasta looks and tastes like traditional pasta, but its higher protein and fiber levels prevent blood sugar levels from spiking and then crashing. The “Plus” is 360 mg. of omega-3 fatty acids, from ground flaxseed, which is good for our ADD/ADHD kids. And there are shapes for all my favorite recipes, so it’s the only pasta I buy. Learn more at BarillaUS.com.
Snacks for Brain Power, Better Moods
Without noontime fuel, our children's moods and academic performance will likely suffer as the day wears on. I send my daughter Natalie to school with foods that make the most of every bite and swallow.
Chobani Champions Greek Yogurt
Natalie likes the grown-up version of Chobani Greek Yogurt, with fruit on the bottom. But she loves Chobani Champions -- an already-blended, creamier version of the original, packed in kid-sized containers -- even better. The first Greek yogurt made for kids, Chobani Champions is free of preservatives and dyes. A 3.5-ounce serving delivers 100 calories, 8 grams of protein, and 12 to 14 grams of carbs. Visit Chobani.com.
Naked Juice Protein Smoothie
Some kids find drinking more appealing than eating, according to pediatrician Karen Harum, M.D. "For those kids, we recommend a high-protein drink at lunch." Naked Juice’s Protein Zone smoothies are perfect. Available in Pineapple/Coconut/Banana, Mango (Natalie’s favorite), and Double Berry flavors, the smoothie has no preservatives or sweeteners. One serving (half of a 15.2-ounce bottle) contains several servings of fruit and delivers 220 calories, 16 grams of whey and soy protein, and about 35 grams of carbs. Visit NakedJuice.com.
Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters
Unlike crunchy or chewy granola bars, these bite-sized goodies are light and crisp, like potato chips. One serving of seven clusters -- a number that a child with a depressed appetite can manage -- includes 140 calories, 16 grams of carbohydrates, and 4 grams of protein. Paired with a carton of milk, these sweet and salty treats make an easy-to-eat mini-meal. Visit NatureValley.com.
Learn more about Kay and Natalie Marner on ADDitude's ADHD Parenting Blog.
More on ADD/ADHD Food and Nutrition
ADD/ADHD Food: The Right Carbs, Fats, Proteins, and More
How Nutrition Impacts ADD/ADHD
Smart, Healthy Snacks for the ADD/ADHD Brain
This article comes from the Winter 2010 issue of ADDitude. To read this issue of ADDitude in full, buy the back issue.
To share your ADHD-friendly snack ideas, visit the Parents of ADHD Children support group on ADDConnect.
