{"id":13862,"date":"2011-07-11T09:27:15","date_gmt":"2011-07-11T08:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chopsybaby.com\/magazine\/?p=13862"},"modified":"2018-11-26T10:48:13","modified_gmt":"2018-11-26T10:48:13","slug":"how-to-avoid-after-school-tantrums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chopsybaby.com\/magazine\/how-to-avoid-after-school-tantrums\/","title":{"rendered":"How to avoid after school tantrums"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Siobhan Mason<\/strong><\/p>\n

Can school gate tantrums be nipped in the bud with the right kind of snacks? Siobhan Mason finds out.<\/h3>\n

You\u2019re looking forward to catching up with the kids after a hectic day at work. But all you get is tantrums and tears, making even the shortest of journeys home seem like miles. Is there anything you can you do to make school-pick up a happier affair?<\/p>\n

\u2018If your children last ate at 12, it\u2019s likely their blood sugar will have fallen quite low by the time they get home from school,\u2019 says Azmina Govindji<\/span><\/span>, a spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association. \u2018Like you when you\u2019ve missed a meal, they might feel low in energy, grumpy and a little light-headed. So it\u2019s really important to have that mid afternoon healthy snack at home, or on the way home from school,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

Be snack savvy<\/strong>
\nHigh carbohydrate and high protein foods generally satisfy the appetite for longer than high-fat foods. So while it\u2019s tempting to offer portable treats such as sweets, crisps or biscuits, such quick-fixes will only be a temporary solution, leaving them low on energy and soon desperate for something else to eat. They need nutritious foods that make their blood sugar rise and fall gently, keeping them \u2013 and you- on an even keel until teatime.<\/p>\n

\u2018You don\u2019t have to be super healthy,\u2019 says Govindji. \u2018Think of what you can give them that replaces the unhealthier snacks but still has the value of taste, texture and fun. Find a happy medium.\u2019 For sweetness and convenience, she recommends bananas, raisins or a child-sized smoothie.<\/p>\n

\u2018A banana is one of the most convenient, healthy foods,\u2019 she says. \u2018Raisins are sweet, have a nice texture and because smoothies contain the whole crushed fruit, they are richer in fibre than a fruit juice and will sustain them for longer.\u2019<\/p>\n

A packet of nuts \u2013 if allergies aren\u2019t a problem \u2013 or mini-oatcakes are a more energy sustaining option than a packet of crisps. \u2018To children, they are a bit like crisps, but are higher in fibre,\u2019 says Govindji. \u2018They are salty, which isn\u2019t ideal, but you have to start somewhere to develop healthy habits.\u2019 For children used to crunching after school, other lower salt, more fibrous crisp alternatives include sesame breadsticks, rice cakes or Japanese rice crackers.<\/p>\n

For a really healthy post-school snack, give almonds a try. A small handful of almonds \u2013 about 7 – kept Azmina Govindji\u2019s children (now teenagers) going after school when they were younger. \u2018Almonds are high in protein, and rich in essential vitamins and minerals, and because they are slowly digested, they really filled my children up and helped them play better together,\u2019 she says. Other nutritious options include a breakfast biscuit, cheese and grapes, mini-rice cakes, yoghurt tubes and cheese triangles. Children love variety and choice, so why not put a mixture in a Tupperware pot or food bag for them to nibble on the way home?<\/p>\n

\u2018If you feel biscuits are only option, at least go for ones with oats or dried fruit in them,\u2019 suggests Govindji. In other words, stock up on the Garibaldis and fig rolls rather than the chocolate digestives.<\/p>\n

Getting lunch right<\/strong>
\nEnsuring your children have a well balanced lunch may go a long way to helping minimise your chances of after-school hell, as this is the meal that is fuelling them until pick-up. \u2018They need a really good protein source, such as cheese, meat, eggs or fish such as tuna,\u2019 says Govindji. \u2018Make sure they have fruit such as grapes or a satsuma and a drink. Fluid is very important for energy and concentration. Although it\u2019s best to avoid sugar-rich drinks, there\u2019s nothing wrong with having a sugary calcium-containing milkshake if it\u2019s balanced with a healthy sandwich and fruit,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

The School Food Trust <\/span><\/span> have lots of healthy packed lunch ideas. Go to the parent and carers section to find low-cost, low effort or vegetarian options.<\/p>\n

Running on empty<\/strong>
\nWhile the right food choices can help with your child\u2019s mood, don\u2019t expect miracles. In his book, Superpowers for Parents: The psychology of great parenting and happy children<\/span><\/a><\/span>, psychologist Dr Stephen Briers points out that your children\u2019s concentration is being taxed to a much greater degree than yours just by the routine business of daily life. All those things you do automatically still take immense concentration in young children, so their brains are often \u2018running on empty\u2019 after a long school day.<\/p>\n

\u2018Mental tasks involving a lot of processing power may have a knock-on effect on children\u2019s ability to keep their behaviour in check,\u2019 explains Dr Briers. \u2018Self-control is like a muscle. Exercising it within sensible limits increases its power, but like a muscle, our self-control can also be pushed to the point of fatigue, resulting in a sudden and dramatic collapse.\u2019<\/p>\n

Sound familiar? If so, quiet time, cuddles and empathy may be just as important as those after school snacks. \u2018Food can go some of the way to restoring your children after school, but there\u2019s no replacement for one to one attention,\u2019 agrees Govindji. Oh well, at least by choosing nutritious after-school snacks you\u2019ll have bought yourself a bit of time to shower attention on your little angel before you have to start preparing tea.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Siobhan Mason Can school gate tantrums be nipped in the bud with the right kind of snacks? 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