Change Your Child’s Environment to Change Your Child’s Life: Part 5
One of the most common issues I see in children with developmental delays and learning disabilities is a poor diet. The United States has the highest childhood BMI rates, yet we are also one of the most nutrient-deficient countries. Many children today are both overweight and malnourished, leading to abnormal brain and body development.
The culprit? Highly processed, refined, and fried foods with little to no real nutritional value. Many of these foods are packed with preservatives and stripped of natural vitamins and minerals. Even when nutrients are added back in through fortification, they are not in their natural form, making them harder for the body to absorb and use effectively.
The Simple Rule: Eat Real Food
A good rule of thumb is to eat organic and stick to foods without labels. When you pick up an apple, you don’t see an ingredient list—it’s just an apple. But if you grab a box of something and don’t recognize half the ingredients, chances are it’s not real food, but something highly processed to resemble food.
If it comes from a tree, grows in the ground, or can be eaten in its natural state, it’s real food. Kids need nutrient-dense foods to support their brain and body development. Processed foods provide empty calories that deplete their bodies instead of nourishing them.
The Hidden Dangers of Processed Oils
A prime example of how harmful processed foods can be is something as common as fast-food fries. For instance—they’re fried in omega-6-rich oils, such as vegetable, soybean, safflower, and canola oil. These oils are highly inflammatory to both the brain and body. Unlike naturally occurring oils, they require intense processing to extract, making them even harder for the body to break down.
Fryer oil in fast-food restaurants can sit for up to two weeks, repeatedly heating and cooling, which further degrades the oil and increases its inflammatory effects. Instead of these harmful oils, the best choices for cooking are avocado oil, olive oil, and butter—natural fats that provide essential nutrients and promote better health.
Final Thoughts
What we put into our children’s bodies directly impacts their brain function, behavior, and overall development. By shifting their diet to include whole, unprocessed foods, we create an environment that supports growth and healing. Small changes can lead to significant improvements in how children feel, think, and thrive.