These are the Foods that Affect Children's Behavior

Your child is grumpy, tired, irritable, and generally in a bad mood. School seems to be going well. Everything is fine at home. Then, what's wrong? Where did this sudden change come from?

Many things can contribute to mood swings in children, and poor diet is one of them.

Vitamins and minerals are not only important for supporting physical health -- they are just as important for their brain and emotional health.

Common Causes of Mood Changes in Children

Mood swings in children can be worrying, but many of them can be easily overcome.

Consider the child's circumstances and ask them questions. You may need to make some adjustments to keep your child happy and comfortable.

Social Problem

Is everything okay with your child's friend? How is their relationship at school? Could it be that your child is being bullied or feels alienated?

Children do not often talk to their parents about their social problems. If a child's self-esteem takes a hit, it's time to take a closer look. Contact your child's teacher and monitor your child's social media usage. If they are being bullied, you need to know.

Increased Stress

Have things changed at home? Is school getting harder? Has your child experienced a major life change, such as a school change, the death of a pet or loved one, or relocation to a new home?

The stress hormone cortisol can affect children's well-being as significantly as adults.

Often, children have fewer ways of controlling their stress. They don't have much of a say in their situation because adults make choices. Talk to your child.

See if something is bothering them, and ask what you can do to give them some relief.

Insomnia or Lack of Sleep

If your child has trouble falling asleep or staying up late to play games or use their cell phone, this drop in energy levels is sure to manifest in their mood. Make sure your child doesn't stay up past bedtime. Get rid of all distractions from their bedroom.

If your child is still not getting enough sleep, a trip to the doctor may be necessary.

Puberty

This is not just a stereotype. Children going through puberty are a little more volatile than usual. Your child may be aggressive, irritated, or anxious when they start to produce more hormones.

This was a huge change to their bodies, and although it was completely normal, it was still not easy to deal with. Most of the anxiety that comes with puberty has to wait.

Poor nutrition

When left alone, children will voluntarily eat chicken nuggets, ice cream, french fries, and macaroni and cheese. No child would order swordfish with grilled asparagus and a glass of water. Children tend to like “creamy” foods, and non-creamy foods get their color from artificial coloring.

A growing body needs a variety of nutrients from the right food groups. Brain fog, lethargy, irritability, and difficulty concentrating can all be side effects of a poor diet, and luckily a little healthy eating can help.

Which Vitamins and Nutrients Are Responsible for Atmosphere?

Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D, almost all B vitamins, folate, vitamin C, and iron play a role in regulating how our brain and bodywork.

If your child is not getting enough of this key vitamin, it will be easy to spot their mood swings.

This key vitamin is required for the production and regulation of hormones, especially to support the neurotransmitters responsible for moods such as serotonin and dopamine.

When the production of major hormones is stopped, the brain is unable to stabilize the mood. This often causes feelings of dysphoria, depression, or anxiety.

What Foods Promote a Better Mood?

Fruits high in antioxidants, vegetables such as leafy greens, low-fat dairy products with probiotics, and lean protein can provide many of the key vitamins your child needs. However, serving these nutrient-rich foods to your kids and getting them to eat them are two different stories.

Dietary restrictions or preferences, such as in a very vegan household, can limit the availability of this major vitamin in your child's diet.

Make a healthier trade-off if you can. Banning snacking or limiting fruit and vegetable snacking is usually successful in encouraging children to eat healthier foods. They won't be full of cookies or chips when it's dinner time, making them more likely to clean their plate of healthy food to satisfy their hunger.

Complementing Your Child's Diet

A poor diet can be supported by everyday children's multivitamins such as Hiya. Our multivitamin features 15 essential vitamins and minerals that are carefully curated to support not only a happy mood but also healthy immunity, development, and growth.

We also pride ourselves on sweetening our multi with all-natural monk fruit for a taste that kids love without all the sweet junk you'll find in our gummy competitors.