Children & Teenagers
Has your chatty 11-year-old morphed into a moody teen? Whilst this may be a normal part of the transition into adulthood, it’s also true that diet has a big influence on our behaviour.
‘Poor blood sugar balance is the single biggest factor leading to mood swings, depression and anxiety’ according to the Food for the Brain Charity, established by British doctors, scientists and psychologists.
If your teen loves white bread, white rice, pasta and sugar-filled ‘protein-bars’ they will be on a blood sugar roller coaster the whole day. This means they will experience blood sugar spikes and ‘crashes’ which often leads to more stress, anxiety and feeling low.
I help provide meal plans that teens love to eat which will fuel them for exams, sport and socialising with the right balance of protein, healthy fats and slow-release carbs.
Skin
Puberty
Gut Health
'My daughter wants to be dairy-free'
Did you know that giving up dairy can actually support hormonal health? And that you don’t need dairy to build strong-bones? Research from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that countries with the highest milk consumption have the highest levels of osteoporosis.
However we do need calcium for strong bones – along with important co-factors like vitamin D3, magnesium and K2. I help provide meal plans for teens which cover all these important nutrients along with enough iron and protein.
Did you know that there is116mg of calcium in just one tablespoon of un-hulled tahini – comparable to half a glass of milk!
5 Top Sources of Dairy-Free Calcium
- Sardines (382mg calcium per 100g)
- Wild Alaskan Salmon (277mg calcium per 100g)
- Chia Seeds (631mg calcium per 100g)
- Tahini (975mg calcium per 100g)
- Almonds (260mg calcium per 100g)
'My son has acne'
Did you know acne has been referred to as ‘skin diabetes’? Large randomized controlled trials have found people with higher sugar intakes have significantly more acne. So the first step to smoother skin is reducing sugar and simple carbs. You can reduce cravings by pre-loading the diet with healthy fats like avocadoes, nut butter and coconut oil and yoghurt, as well as adequate protein. Prawns are a fantastic skin choice, loaded with protein and zinc.
There are also targeted supplements and probiotics which can be a game-changer for skin health.
Work with Laura
If you’d like to discuss how Laura can support your child or teenager in diet, wellbeing and lifestyle, book a consult today.
Work with Laura
If you’d like to discuss how Laura can support your child or teenager in diet, wellbeing and lifestyle, book a consult today.
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