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Food for the Brain - Campaign in two Schools shows significant improvements in children's behaviour and learning potential.

"Her reading, writing and confidence has improved incredibly. She is much more confident and her balance is also improving. I honestly did not think it would make this much difference."

"Most significant was the reduction in symptoms of ADHD, hyperactivity and impulsivity. After only three months the results are extremely impressive."

Numerous studies have shown that taking multivitamins and minerals, and essential fat supplements such as omega 3, as well as reducing sugar and additives, can improve children's learning potential and promote better behaviour.

Now, for the first time, Food for the Brain, a non-profit campaign founded by psychologist and leading nutritionist Patrick Holford, has launched a major new education initiative, aimed at improving children's school performance and behaviour by addressing all those areas at the same time.

This pilot study will create a template that can be applied to schools throughout the UK, to ensure children are operating at their Optimum Nutrition level.

Cricket Green, a special needs school in Mitcham, Surrey, was the first school to take part. More than 100 children, ranging from five to 16-years-old, started with their nutrition 'makeover' after Easter. This involved workshops with both the children and the parents, and encouraging them to try out new foods, fresh fruit and water every day at school, offering a very healthy lunch menu, and banning sugary drinks and snacks. The children are also doing special exercises, which enhance coordination. Each child was assessed before the trial began, and were tested half way through, and will be assessed again at the end.

Every day since the beginning of June (2006) they have been given a chewable multivitamin and mineral (Dinochews), and an essential fat supplement, as well as, of course, a healthy diet.

Dinochews - multivitamin and mineral dinosaur chewables

Essential Omegas

Book -Optimum Nutrition for your Child's Mind - by Patrick Holford

Eskimo Kids Omega oils 

See here for Patrick Holford's suggestions for an Easy Nutritional Approach to Maximising your Children's Potential.

Headteacher, Celia Dawson, said: "The changes we have seen fall into three main areas: improvement on their quality of communication and use of language, greater attention span - therefore improved quality in things such as handwriting - and changes in mood swings with pupils being calmer."

Some parents revealed how the project had changed their children's lives. Karen, whose daughter Gemma was born with cerebral palsy, said, "Her reading, writing and confidence has improved incredibly. She is much more confident and her balance is also improving. I honestly did not think it would make this much difference."

Sharon, whose son Reece has ADHD, was equally impressed. "He used to be aggressive. Now he is calmer and even says sorry when he loses his temper."

The independent education psychologist who assessed each child, Melanie Herff, added: "Most significant was the reduction in symptoms of ADHD, hyperactivity and impulsivity. After only three months the results are extremely impressive."

The second school has just started and this will run through to May 2007, when the children sit their SAT exams, which will enable a comparison of SAT scores from one year to the next.

The Campaign is supported by the National Association of Head Teachers and most of the leading charities in mental health.

"This trial could potentially have major implications for the way we think about diet and exercise in relation to our children's performance," said Patrick Holford, founder of Food for the Brain.  "We want to change the whole culture around food, not just for the kids at school but also at home, as well as giving a daily multivitamin and essential fat supplement, and measure the results in terms of behaviour, school grades, learning and IQ. It is more than just proving what works, we need to show schools how they can provide high quality school meals that maximise the children's potential as well as making sure parents have access to both the information and the kinds of food that makes a difference."

Have you seen our latest article on the benefits of Omega 3 in Childhood Depression?