- From the Brain Balance Nutrition Team
At Brain Balance, we promote the Balance 360 System; a 5-step proprietary program that involves a foundation of clean eating and builds from there to help our students to achieve their best results. Health is a lifestyle journey. Good eating is the foundation. Focusing on small, gradual changes is the key to lasting, positive change.
When goal setting, focus on the creation of SMART goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Time-bound.
- Specific means that you’re honing in on just what you want to change. Instead of “I want to eat cleaner,” state, “I want to improve my health by eating more vegetables.”
- Measurable - if you can measure it, you can manage it. For this goal, I might say “my child will eat one serving of vegetables each day, at lunch. I will record their veggie intake on the family calendar.”
- Action-oriented - what is going to be your key to success? Are you going to include your favorite veggies in your weekend shopping, chop them, and package them in individual baggies so that they’re ready for lunch? Make a big pot of veggie soup and pack a thermos for lunch? Have a serving of leafy greens in your usual smoothie? Create your plan of action for success with your goal.
- Realistic. Making lifestyle changes should be a small step from where you are, not a giant leap. If the last time a green vegetable landed on your child’s plate was last summer, a vegetable every day is probably too big of a change. Having a serving of veggies twice a week might be a good place to start.
- Time Bound. How long are you going to try this new challenge before you reassess? Keep in mind that your initial SMART goal is merely the first step on your wellness journey. Start with one small goal and build momentum from there. “I will have one serving of vegetables twice a week, for the next three weeks. Then I will reassess.”
Don’t forget a reward. In exchange for success with your goal, what is going to be your child’s treat? I recommend something exciting, not too big, and not food. Maybe it is a trip to the library, a bottle of bubbles, money towards new music or clothes, or something simple, such as a family-wide pillow fight.
Making changes is a challenge. Keep things positive and have clear, consistent communication with your family. Keep working and enjoy making progress!
To learn why our whole-child approach is the most effective way to help your child overcome their learning, behavior, and social challenges, contact us online or find a center near you.
About Balance 360 Nutrition
Balance 360 nutrition focuses on research-backed recommendations to optimize brain health, development and performance. By providing education and support around our pillars of nutrition we empower you to set a foundation of a brain-healthy lifestyle. Through one-on-one meetings with our nutrition experts we meet you where you are and help you set realistic, achievable goals to elevate your brain health.
Our primary areas of focus consist of fuel, hydration and reducing systemic inflammation. Fuel provides our bodies and brains the nutrients needed to function at an optimal level. Proper hydration affects every cell in our bodies. We work to identify and minimize common dietary drivers of inflammation including added sugars, ultra-processed foods, dyes and artificial sweeteners.
