We’ve had A LOT of parents asking questions about their child’s diet and nutrition so far this summer.  As we all know, the typical American diet isn’t good for anyone, but especially not for growing brains and bodies. From here on out, each week we will be blogging about an essential nutrient and where to find it! It’s not only great to start incorporating these foods into your child’s menu, but yours as well! Being healthier as family makes this transition much easier!

This week we are starting out with Vitamin A. It is a powerful antioxidant most commonly known for eye health, but it is even more important for the brain. It is absolutely essential throughout life for brain health. It is a potent signaling molecule for the brain, helps regulate the production of certain genes, is instrumental in the processes resulting in neuron production, and is involved in the communication network of the brain. In recent studies, it has been found that children on the Autism spectrum are frequently deficient in Vitamin A.

Vitamin A is abundant in many foods, particularly liver and oily fish. (Yes I know neither of those are particularly kid friendly) but there are plenty of other options to incorporate Vitamin A into your family’s menu. Be careful with any dairy products. If you notice your child has any sensitivities to foods or you notice bad behavior after a meal, that could be grounds for eliminating that food from their diet.

• Eggs
• Leafy greens
• Broccoli
• Cantaloupe
• Dried apricots
• Carrots
• Mango
• Pumpkin
• Red bell peppers
• Spinach
• Sweet potatoes

*All of this information can be found in Dr. Robert Melillo’s newest book The Disconnected Kids Nutrition Plan. He goes through an elimination diet step by step, ways to incorporate new foods, and some kid friendly recipes! He recommends 10,000 IU’s of Vitamin A per day which you can supplement with 10 milligrams of beta-carotene if you/your child are not getting enough of it from food alone.