There is no evidence that supports the idea that diet causes ADHD. However, there are several studies that indicate healthy nutrition can help to improve symptoms.
It is important to provide your child with snacks to help ease ADHD symptoms throughout the day. If your child is on medication and doesn’t have much of an appetite during the day, they may come home extremely hungry and will need a snack with all the right amounts of protein, fat, and complex carbohydrates. Remember to use fresh ingredients and avoid processed foods.
Your child may have certain cravings throughout the day. Try to select healthy alternatives that will ease the craving and give the brain a boost! If your child wants something crunchy try pan popped popcorn instead of potato chips!
Try these healthy smart snack alternatives from Healthline.com.
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Instead of this |
Choose this |
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Prepackaged fruit-flavored snacks |
• Real fruit, such as apples, oranges, bananas, pears, nectarines, plums, raisins, grapes • Homemade fruit smoothie • Dried fruit without added sugar |
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Potato chips and other crunchy munchies |
• Pan-popped popcorn, with little or no butter and salt • Baked whole-grain chips or pretzels • Diced carrots and celery, with hummus • Broccoli and cauliflower, with fresh salsa or yogurt dip • Roasted chickpeas |
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Ice cream |
• Plain yogurt sweetened with fruit • Cut up watermelon and cantaloupe, or other fruit mixture • Homemade fruit smoothies |
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Candy bars, cookies, and other sweets |
• Dried fruit and nut mixture • Dark chocolate covered fruit |
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Popular kiddie cereals |
• Whole-grain, high fiber cereal, with fresh berries and nuts |
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Instant oatmeal packets with added sugars |
• Plain oatmeal, with bananas, berries, or stone fruit |
While providing good nutrition may help control ADHD symptoms, it is important to focus on helping your child develop the cognitive skills required for strong executive function.
Play Attention will develop a customized plan for your child that will improve attention, executive function, and self-regulation. Click here to chat with an executive function specialist and plan for a successful school year!