Foods that Fight School Year End Stress for Kids
If you or someone in your family suffers from end of school year stress and anxiety, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s very common. And not just for students—many parents report feeling stressed out during this time of year, too.
For kids, the end of the school year can be stress and anxiety provoking for several reasons, including the imminent academic pressures, changes in schedule, and new routines.
Kids won’t often vocalize these feelings of stress, but since our body (particularly our gut) is so in tune with our emotional wellbeing, stress often manifests itself into a tummy ache for kids.
So what can we eat to help calm our gut and mind at the same time? Here are 10 foods that are known to be stress-reducing:
Asparagus
Depression has long been linked to low levels of folic acid, and one food that boosts tons of this mood-enhancing nutrient is asparagus.
Blueberries
Just a handful of nutritional powerhouse blackberries pack a powerful punch of antioxidants and vitamin C, making them incredible stress-busters. When we’re stressed, our bodies need vitamin C and antioxidants to help repair and protect cells.
Avocado
Feelings of anxiety may be rooted in a B vitamin deficiency, since we need B vitamins for healthy nerves and brain cells. Luckily, avocados are rich in stress-relieving B vitamins. Also, they’re super high in monounsaturated fat and potassium, which help lower blood pressure.
Milk
Everyone knows that a glass of warm milk before bed is a time-tested remedy for insomnia. That’s because milk is high in antioxidants, vitamins B2 and B12, protein, and calcium. Milk can create a calming effect by lowering blood pressure, while the potassium in milk can help relieve muscle spasms triggered by feeling tense.
Oranges
There’s a reason orange juice is said to be part of the breakfast of champions: Vitamin C is another vitamin known to lower blood pressure and cortisol, which is a stress hormone.
Almonds
Almonds are rich in vitamins B2 and E, which are both stress-reducing vitamins. These nutrients help bolster the immune system during times of anxiety and stress.
Salmon
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps keep cortisol and adrenaline from spiking when you’re feeling tense. Since salmon is one of the very best sources of omega-3s, it’s a great choice for dinner.
Turkey
That sleepy feeling you get after eating Thanksgiving dinner is due to the amino acid tryptophan found in turkey. Tryptophan signals the brain to release the feel-good chemical serotonin, which promotes calmness and even tiredness. Try making turkey soup for dinner and then packing your child leftovers for lunch the next day.
Spinach
Leafy greens aren’t usually most people’s idea of comfort food, but spinach can have a major comforting effect. It’s packed with magnesium, the mineral that helps regulate cortisol levels and promote feelings of well-being.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is another food that helps get the calm-inducing hormone serotonin flowing. Choose the big old-fashioned oats that require cooking instead of instant oatmeal.
Why?
Coarse oats are less processed and higher in fibre, so they take longer to digest (meaning their calming effect lasts longer).
Consuming these foods on a regular basis for the last few weeks of school would be very helpful in keeping stress at bay. And since stress can often cause constipation (more blood flow to the brain equals less in the digestive system), we’re here to help with that, too.
Natura Fiber
Just 1/3 cup natura fiber once per day can help alleviate constipation, due to its main ingredient: ground flax seed. Since flax seed is super high in fiber, natura fiber works really well in aiding temporary digestive issues like constipation.