A child's brain is sensitive to slightly lowered iron levels even before blood tests indicate trouble. Iron-anemic children have decreased attention spans and are less motivated to persist in intellectually challenging tasks. Serve iron-fortified cereals for breakfast. Include red meat, tuna, salmon or chicken on the menu at least three times per week. Serve lots of dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli and legumes.
Folic acid is essential for the formation and maturation of red and white blood cells.
A student with a deficiency in folic acid is tired, apathetic, irritable and forgetful. Raw fruits and vegetables, especially orange juice and spinach, are the best sources of folic acid. The B vitamins act to help unlock the energy in glucose. A deficiency in B vitamins can interfere with learning by causing personality changes including aggressiveness, hostility and depression. No one food supplies all the necessary B vitamins, so a variety of foods is important.