Eat to Learn! Apples for Brainpower
If an apple a day can keep forgetfulness away, imagine what a whole pan of delicious baked apples can do!
I’m digging up some facts that connect foods to brain function and energy production, so I can share them with students in a program called “Eat to Learn.” The program intends to increase participation and consumption of fruits and vegetables available during school lunch for elementary school kids.
And my research can help parents at home too!
Here are some of the factoids we’ll be sharing with kids during morning announcements – so they are written with elementary school students in mind.
The Eat to Learn program goes along with my theory that if you make real food relevant to kids, they’ll learn to eat and appreciate it.
Step One: Read the factoids below to your kids.
Step Two: Offer then fresh apples several times a week.
Step Three: Next time they remember something, learn something new or show deep concentration, tell them it’s all because of those apple snacks.
Why Should Kids (Who Want Big Brains) Eat Apples?
What makes your brain go? Its glucose, you see. The glucose in apples makes your brain run; eat an apple and power your brain second to none.
Apples make more memory-improving neurotransmitters in your brain. Neurotranswhat? The big fancy word doesn’t matter, just remember, eat an apple and your brain will gobble up more math facts.
Quercetin in apples prevents brain cell death; more brain cells alive equals more concentration, learning and remembering.
Can’t keep it straight? “E” before “i” or “i” before “e”? Malic acid in apples helps with mental clarity.
Growing Brains Need Complex Carbs: Apples Over Apple Juice
Brain cells are greedy, needing two times more energy than all other cells. Complex carbohydrates, like apples, provide the best energy for your brain. Fruit juice isn’t enough, it’s a simple carbohydrate. Juice energy quickly burns off and leaves your brain starving. Chew your fruit to make your brain run from sun up to sun down. If you have the choice between fruit and fruit juice, make the choice your brain wants; pick the fruit you have to chew.
Hi!
I am an eye doctor and a MOM in Katy. I am very interested in you Eat to Learn Program and how I can get it started in my children’s elementary school.
Any help is greatly apprectiated!
Allison
Love it!! I will share it with my kids tomorrow as we hold our first annual “Apple Tasting” Contest. We bought 2 of every type of apple at the orchard this past weekend and plan on taste testing and voting for our favorite! Thanks for the info to back up this little family activity!!
Finally! Something my kids and I are already doing right in the healthy eating department, yay! We have a couple of apple eaters over here, and a few will even eat it with the “crust”, as they call it. Thanks for the great info.
Hurray! My kids already eat apples galore. I just found a new source of organic apples straight from the grower in all the western states: http://www.ripe2u.com Yummy!
sheryl, what a fun annual family tradition. food, family, fun = traditions your kids will pass down to their kids!
Dr Low – So happy to see other parents taking action to support student success thru better food! I’ll contact you directly. polly- hilarious! apple crust, i wonder if it’ll put hair on the chest?
Me and my kids love apples! I believe in the old adage, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But I also learned during my first pregnancy while I was dealing with GD that on the nights I ate apples as a bedtime snack with a protein like a piece of cheese (or even just by itself!) that the next morning my blood sugar was always perfect. So now, when my kids are wanting a bedtime snack, apples it is! I know from my experience that it will help them feel full, be low in calories, and keep their blood sugar in a good place and I can feel good about that. And now I now what all it’s doing for their brains as well! Great!
Thanks Jenna for the great tips. My son is only 5 months old, but his mom at 35 years is finally learning to eat healthy. I decided I needed to do it for myself and also to be a good role model for him when he moves on to solid foods. Keep up the good work! What about something on honey?
I love how creative you are about encouraging children to make good choices with food by making it relavent to them. This is something I do with my children everyday already but you always have great fresh ideas. I admire you for being proactive with your blog and reaching out to the elementary school. I am a registered dietitian and stay-at-home mom of a toddler and pre-schooler and look forward to doing something similar to what you’ve been doing once my children are in elementary school. I’ve shared your blog with several of my mom friends!
~Melinda