Workout
Healthy Eating
Meditation
Recipe
Beauty Tips
Social Service
About Us
Review Board
Editorial Process
Contact Us
Health Tracker
AI Tools
✓ Evidence Based

11 Best Brain Boosting Superfoods For Your Growing Children

Our brain also absorbs nutrients from the food we eat like the rest of the body. That’s why it is very important for children to take food rich in highly nutritious elements. Healthy and nutritious food helps you to improve your memory, concentration and brain function. As we know, the brain also absorbs essential nutrients as per its requirement, which are helpful during its various functions. Renowned dieticians give some suggestions in this article on brain boosting superfoods for your growing children, which we are mentioning below.

Best Brain Boosting Superfoods For Growing Children.

1. Eggs.

Eggs
Eggs

Adding something rich in carbs, protein and a small amount of healthy fat to your child’s breakfast plate will help them to stay energized throughout the day. Eggs are rich in protein and as an added bonus they contain choline. Which helps in increasing memory power.(1)

2. Oily Fish.

Oily fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids and are beneficial for brain development and overall health. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential components of the building blocks of the body’s stem cells.(2)

Nutrition
Fish

Fish such as salmon, mackerel, fresh tuna, trout, sardines and herring are high in omega-3 fatty acids. If non-vegetarian people want to consume it, they can it consume two to three times a week.

3. Oats/ Oatmeal.

Oatmeal are one of the excellent natural sources of energy which act as a “fuel” for the brain. Oats are high in fiber which keeps babies satisfied for a long time. Due to which children are saved from eating junk/fast food etc.

Oats
Oats

The amount of vitamin E, B complex and zinc is also high in oats, which help the brain of children to work in the best possible way. You can use any topping you want to entice the kids. For example, serve oats by mixing apples, bananas, blueberries or even almonds, cashews.

4. Vegetables.

Nowadays, some colorful vegetables are also found in the vegetables available in the market. These vegetables are rich in anti-oxidants. Which plays an important role in keeping the brain cells healthy and in their formation.(3)

Vegetables
Vegetables

Tomatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, spinach, capsicum are some of the vegetables that you can include in your child’s diet. You can include them in your diet by steaming them or by making soup of all these vegetables.

5. Milk, Curd and Cheese.

Milk, curd and cheese are rich in protein and B vitamins. Which are essential for the development of brain tissue, neurotransmitters and enzymes. All these play an important role in the development and formation of the brain. These foods are also high in calcium which is absolutely necessary for the development of strong and healthy teeth and bones.(4)

low-fat milk
Milk

Dairy products like yogurt are a good source of iodine, which is essential to the body for brain development and cognitive function. Studies show that children who do not consume enough iodine they are more likely to have cognitive impairment than children with iodine-adequate diets.

By the way, the calcium requirement of children varies depending on their age. Therefore, growing children must consume two to three calcium-rich sources every day.

Don’t worry if your child doesn’t like milk. Include other dairy products in their diet. For babies who like milk, you can use milk instead of water when making porridge, pudding or pancakes. Due to which both nutrition and taste will increase.

6. Legumes.

Kidney Beans
Kidney Beans

Among the different types of beans available in the market, including green beans such as kidney beans are a great natural source of protein, vitamins and minerals for your kids. Thus kidney beans have more Omega 3 than any other beans.

7. Berries.

Berries Brain Boosting Superfoods For Your Growing Children
Berries

They are packed with beneficial plant compounds which are called anthocyanins. It is effective for brain health in many ways. They increase blood flow to the brain, works effectively during inflammation, associated with the production and formation of new nerve cells etc. It contains brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which play important roles in learning.

8. Green Leafy Vegetables.

Spinach Brain Boosting Superfoods For Your Growing Children
Spinach

By the way, feeding green vegetables to children is like a challenge. But research shows that these nutritious vegetables are important for brain health in children. Green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and lettuce have brain-protecting compounds which include folate, flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamin E and vitamin K.

9. Cocoa.

Cocoa Brain Boosting Superfoods For Your Growing Children
Chocolate

Cocoa products have anti-inflammatory and protective properties against brain tissue. Studies have shown that they are effective for brain health. It contains flavonoids which increase blood flow to the brain and improve visual processing. In research, these were thought to be responsible for the performance of creative tasks in adults.(5)

10. Oranges.

Oranges are a popular citrus fruit and are a favorite of children because of their sweet taste. Including oranges in your child’s diet can improve their overall health including their cognitive health.(6)

Oranges Brain Boosting Superfoods For Your Growing Children
Oranges

Flavonoid present in oranges is very effective. Studies show that flavonoid-rich foods and beverages like oranges and orange juice help to increase nerve activity and blood flow to the brain. It also contain vitamin C, which is an essential nutrient for brain health. Vitamin-C is an essential nutrient for proper brain development, neurotransmitter production and development.

11. Iron Rich Foods.

Iron deficiency is common around the world and especially among children. Low iron status in the body can negatively affect cognitive development and academic performance in children.(7)

Red-Meat Brain Boosting Superfoods For Your Growing Children
Red Meat

So, make sure your child’s diet includes plenty of iron-rich foods to prevent iron deficiency. These include red meat, poultry products, seafood, beans and spinach.

Bottom Line.

So now, you all have came to know about what are the brain boosting superfoods for your growing children. A healthy, balanced diet is important for your child’s overall health. Including their brain health. Studies have shown that certain nutrients and foods, including seafood, eggs, berries and others on this list, are particularly important for cognitive performance. Including the foods listed above in your child’s diet will help to provide the nutrients their brain needs to develop and function optimally.

+7 Sources

Verywelfit has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, educational research institutes, and medical organizations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and up-to-date by reading our editorial policy.

  1. Choline: an essential nutrient for public health; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19906248/
  2. Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Brain Functions: A Systematic Review; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9641984/#:~:text=Ingestion%20of%20omega%2D3%20fatty,from%20an%20omega%2D3%20supplement.
  3. Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2805706/
  4. Relation between dairy food intake and cognitive function: The Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3895502/
  5. Effect of Cocoa and Cocoa Products on Cognitive Performance in Young Adults; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7760676/
  6. Flavonoid-rich orange juice is associated with acute improvements in cognitive function in healthy middle-aged males; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5009163/
  7. Impact of Beef and Beef Product Intake on Cognition in Children and Young Adults: A Systematic Review; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6722791/
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
Share Now:

Was this article helpful?

🤓

😕

logo

The best of health & fitness platform

We do the research so you don't have to. Stay up-to-date with the latest health and fitness information.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Evidence Based

This content is based on scientific research and written by experts.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and fitness experts endeavor to be unbiased, objective, honest and to present each sides of the argument.

This article contains scientific references. The numbers in the parentheses (1,2,3) are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific researches.

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW

SUBSCRIBE TO GET LATEST FITNESS AND NUTRITION UPDATES!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.