There's been more than enough studies to show that multivitamins, essential fat supplements, low sugar, additive-free diets improve children's learning and behaviour but what happens if you give a child all of this at once - optimum nutrition for the brain, plus daily structured exercise designed to improve coordination (SAQ).

The Food for the Brain Schools Campaign aims to find out in a unique initiative involving two primary schools, by radically improving their nutrition over a period of six months. The campaign, supported by the National Association of Head Teachers and most of the leading charities in mental health, is the brainchild of nutritionist and psychologist Patrick Holford who formed Food for the Brain, a charity, with the support and advice of some of the leading brains in psychology, brain chemistry, nutrition, education and psychiatry. "We want to change the whole culture around food, not just for the kids at school but also at home, as well as giving a daily multivitamin and essential fat supplement, and measure the results in terms of behaviour, school grades, learning and IQ." says Holford, Director of the Brain Bio Centre clinic at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition.

The first school, a primary school in London for children with special educational needs, started with their nutrition 'makeover' after Easter 2006. This involved workshops with both the kids and parents, in order to encourage them to try out new foods, fresh fruit and water every day at school, a ban on sugary drinks and snacks, and a super-healthy lunch menu. The children also did special exercises (SAQ), which enhance coordination. Each child was tested before and after, with a mid-point testing at three months. The second school started after the summer holidays in '06 and ran through till May '07, when the children sat their SATs tests, to enable a comparison of SATs scores from one year to the next. This was filmed by the Tonight with Trevor McDonald programme and details of the project were broadcast at the halfway point on ITV on the 5th January 2007. The final results were broadcast after the SATs test scores hade been announced on the 13 July 2007, which revealed significant improvements in all the crtieria measured within the project.  The results for Cricket Green are now available in a Special Report.  Click here to see the whole report.  You can also view the results of the second primary school project at Chineham Park by clicking here.

This is the first ever project of this kind and the results are striking. The teachers have reported less impulsivity, which means the children can concentrate and learn better. The parents have reported less hyperactivity and better social skills, which means better behaviour. The scale of these results have not been achieved by diet alone, and are consistent with other studies involving supplements. This project demonstrates that an improved diet, plus supplements and daily exercise is a winning formula. However, the key is involving parents and children every step of the way to take on board a healthier lifestyle. We hope that transformations like this will make the Government sit up and listen and provide the necessary funding to enable schools across the UK to benefit. For more details see the Special Report.

The Food for the Brain team also includes Kerry Torrens, a nutritional therapist who has helped students in university improve their diet, nutritionist and kitchen wizard, Fiona McDonald Joyce, catering expert Professor David Russell, psychologists Dr Madeleine Portwood, Hannah Himes and Melanie Herff, and nutritional therapist Deborah Colson, co-author of Optimum Nutrition for Your Child's Mind (Piatkus, 2006), who treats children with mental health problems at the Brain Bio Centre clinic in London.

Food for the Brain is working closely with contract caterers and innovative food, drink, health and wellbeing companies to create a sustainable result for other schools to follow. "It's no good just proving what works' says Holford "we want to make sure that schools can access school meals that maximise a child's potential and that parents also have access to both the information and the kinds of food that makes a difference."

If you are interested in getting your school involved please complete the SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN Information Sheet and either send it to 'Food for the Brain', PO Box 53980, LONDON< SW15 6TY or email it to info@foodforthe brain.org

DO YOU NEED HELP?

Come to the Brain Bio Centre, our outpatient clinic, specialising in the 'optimum nutrition' approach to mental health problems.