"Jenny's in a fix/With her arithmetics/Poor concentration/Boys in the classroom cause agitation/ She's a junk food junky/Blame it on the food, yeah/Blame it on the food."

Almost 30 years ago, X-ray Spex got it right with those lyrics.

When toddlers eat chips, sweets, and soft drinks, their IQ at age 8 is several points lower than kids with a healthier diet. Add this to info that when mom eats junk while pregnant, her child will likely be a fast-food aficionado, too; and even if the kid later upgrades his or her diet, life-long health problems (high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, brain dysfunction, and behavior problems) often persist.

So remember:

• Smart, healthy kids start before conception! You want to be a healthy weight and take prenatal vitamins with DHA omega-3s even before you get pregnant. And when pregnant, you're NOT eating for two; you need only 10 percent more calories.
• Stick to a diet of 100 percent whole grains, limited saturated fats, no trans fats, no added sugars or sugar syrups, and lots of fresh veggies and fruit. Your diet affects the dopamine in your baby's brain, a reward system that can be programmed to respond to fatty, fried foods, or veggies and whole grains, depending on what you eat.
• Breastfeeding, at least partially for four to six months, gives your child the best chance for a healthy weight and brain as a teen.
• When you introduce solid food, offer plenty of legumes (that's beans and peas), fruits, and vegetables.


© 2012 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.