If your child is having trouble paying attention in class, remembering instructions, or showing signs of poor academic performance, it's natural to wonder about a learning disorder. But suppose the real culprit is hiding in their lunchbox?

A shocking body of research now suggests that micronutrient deficiencies among children can hauntingly mimic the symptoms of cognitive delay, behavioral issues, and even learning disabilities. What may seem to be a developmental or neurological disorder may well be traced back to a far more preventable source: a lack of vital vitamins and minerals.

Hunger is not just about empty stomachs—it's about the lack of quality nutrients the body needs to function and grow. In the United States alone, more than 13 million children—about 18%—live in food-insecure households. That means almost one in five children who don't have regular access to nutritious meals.

In accordance with a number of studies, children who develop in food-insecure homes are likely to enter school behind. They are less likely to be developmentally prepared for kindergarten, and are likely to suffer from undiagnosed iron deficiency anemia—an problem research has determined to weaken memory and social functioning even a decade later.

Their performance at school declines with lower test scores on standardized tests, slower reading development, and more emotional and behavioral problems. The majority of these children receive inappropriate diagnoses of learning disabilities when, in fact, they are struggling due to nutrient deficiencies.

It's easy to get confused between the symptoms of micronutrient deficiency and learning or attention disorders. Children can appear sluggish, daydreamy, irritable, or lack interest in learning—symptoms most typically associated with ADHD, anxiety, or developmental delay.

A learning disorder is where the brain perceives information in a different manner, which holds a child back from learning or applying certain abilities effectively—yet they might be of average or above-average intelligence. This neurologic condition creates a noticeable deficit between the potential and existing academic performance of a child. Learning-disabled children may experience trouble with reading, writing, math, or attention, but the point is that these troubles are not linked with intelligence or effort. Early recognition and intervention are the most effective means of allowing children to acquire the skills required to be successful in school as well as everyday life.

But as Nutritionist Aman Puri says, it begins in the kitchen, "Good nutrition is the foundation for a child to grow and develop to his/her full potential. While motor and cognitive function begin unfolding during early childhood, deprivation of essential nutrients delays or impedes these natural milestones."

In particular, iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have actually been specifically implicated in cognitive dysfunctions, trouble remembering things, and low IQ levels. Even in certain cases, these deficiencies aren't visibly apparent until a great deal further down the line—when the academic or behavioral issues suddenly begin surfacing.

How Each Nutrient Affects Your Child's Brain?

Iron is needed to deliver oxygen to the brain. Deficiencies reduce red blood cell production and hemoglobin, impacting cognitive development directly.

Zinc is linked with attention span, problem-solving, and memory consolidation. Deficiencies can slow learning significantly.

Iodine is needed for early brain development. Iodine-deficient children have lower intelligence test scores and are at risk for goitre.

Vitamin B12 supports neurological function. Deficiency can retard motor skills and mimic ADHD and language processing disorder symptoms.

"Deficiencies may or may not initially present with any symptoms at all," says Puri. "But over time, they may influence brain growth so much so that it becomes easy to equate them with clinical learning disability."

The Problem With Modern Diet is More Than Junk Food

Even in households where food is abundant, nutrition can be lacking. Between processed foods, fast food, and sugary drinks, children are taking in calories—but not necessarily the essential nutrients they require. Throw in hectic parental schedules and a lack of nutritional knowledge, and the outcome is a recipe for malnourishment, even in middle-income households.

Malnutrition is the cause of nearly half of the deaths of all children under age five, and the World Health Organization (WHO) tells us so. And to those few who survive it, developmental lags and learning issues become the normal challenge to deal with.

Simple Steps for Smarter Nutrition Parents Can Follow

So what can be done? First, parents can take back control by providing a well-balanced, micronutrient-dense diet. Puri recommends introducing fortified foods and natural sources of essential nutrients early on—namely, the first five years of life when the brain grows most rapidly.

Nutrients to include:

Iron: Leafy greens, legumes, eggs, lean meats

Zinc: In milk products, seeds, and whole grains

Iodine: From iodized salt, seaweed, and milk

Vitamin B12: Found in fish, eggs, milk, and fortified cereals

Folate, calcium, vitamins A, D, and E: Best found on a plate of rainbow hues

"Nutrition education strategies must begin with maternal and child health programs," says Puri. "Mothers must be educated on the long-term consequences of micronutrient deficiencies and the benefits of early dietary intervention."

Before rushing to label your child with a learning disorder, take a closer look at their plate. The brain, like any other organ, responds well to optimal fuel. And occasionally, the solution to deficient focus, mood swings, or learning lags is as elementary—and as life-changing—as an upgrade in nutritional quality.

Aman Puri is a Nutritionist and Founder, Steadfast Nutrition with an expertise as a Sleep Science Coach and in Sports Psychology.

Too much about Danish parenting is already out in the discussion, but there is something new, yet again. The rulebook to Danish parent, and its first rule is: Children Always Make Sense.

The New Danish Parenting or NDP is based on a concept which relies on the Internal Family System or IFS, an attachment theory that in Denmark is called the New Child View. This is a shift from the old ways of parenting, to a new method, which follows equality, integrity, authenticity, and accountability.

The new child view is based on the work of Danish Family Therapist Jesper Juul, Family-lab, and Blackbird Institute.

Danish Parenting: Why Is It Important?

The Old paradigm of parenting was based on fear, control, abuse of power and inequality between the parent and child. Even though parents know how children behave, the old way is ingrained into our brains so much, that it is hard to follow through in practice. The new method thus compels parents to be with their own wounded parts or the inner child. This is when it becomes even more important to be with the actual child the parent is taking care of.

Also Read: What Is Denmark's 'Cry It Out' Method Of Putting Babies to Sleep?

Danish Parenting: Why Is It Unique?

At the foundation of New Danish Parenting is attachment. It is through the attachment of oneself from within can one take care of the actual child. The new way encourages to form a sense of safety, security and attachment between the self and parts of our inner children.

The system this bases focuses on healing modality. The focus lies on feeling safe, being the parent our child wants us to be. The new method has this New Danish Parenting, the first rule is: Children Always Make Sense. Let's talk a bit about that before moving on to the other rules.

Danish Parenting Rule No. 1: Children Always Make Sense

As human beings, we live on a spectrum between integrity and cooperation. Integrity means being true to what we feel on the inside and expressing it honestly on the outside. Cooperation, on the other hand, is about fitting in, belonging, and maintaining relationships with caregivers, family, and society. Both are essential for healthy living, but the balance between them can easily tip.

We are born deeply connected to our integrity. As babies, we cry when we are hungry, uncomfortable, or scared. We turn toward connection when we need it and turn away when we’ve had enough. This isn’t weakness. It’s competence. Babies instinctively know how to communicate their needs and boundaries.

The bond between a baby and caregiver is a two-way relationship. When a baby makes a sound or facial expression and a caregiver responds with a similar one, both are engaging, learning, and growing. These small moments shape the brain and nervous system of both child and adult, building connection and trust.

As we grow, we naturally adapt to our environment. This helps us survive, belong, and feel loved. We learn to share, wait, cooperate, and consider others. In supportive environments, children learn how to be themselves while staying connected to others.

But no environment is perfect. This is where over-cooperation begins. Over-cooperation happens when children learn that certain feelings, needs, or boundaries are not acceptable. A child may hide sadness behind a smile, ignore discomfort during unwanted touch, or eat past fullness because stopping isn’t allowed.

What often looks like “bad behavior” is actually a child struggling. Children are not being difficult; they are having a difficult time. Their behavior always has meaning and usually comes from a place of self-protection.

When adults meet children with curiosity instead of punishment, children feel seen and safe. This helps them understand themselves better and slowly return to a healthier balance between integrity and cooperation.

Meghan Trainor, an American singer-songwriter and television personality opened up about her third child through surrogacy. In an interview with PEOPLE she said, :"It wasn’t our first choice, but we had endless conversations with our doctors on this journey, and this was the safest way for us to be able to continue growing our family. We are forever grateful for that option."

Trainor, 32, and her husband Daryl Sabara, 33, welcomed their daughter Mikey Moon via surrogate on January 18, and are also parents to their sons Riley,4, and Barry, 2.

What Did Meghan Trainor Say About Surrogacy?

"Our surrogate is one of the most selfless, strong and loving people I’ve ever met. We felt so connected throughout the entire journey, and I’ll always be grateful for the care and love she showed our daughter. She gave us the greatest gift of our lives. She graciously answered our many check-in texts to make sure she was doing okay."

Meghan also said that she wants people to know that surrogacy is just another beautiful way to build a family. "It is not something to whisper about or judge. It is rooted in trust, science, love, and teamwork. Every family's journey looks different, and all of theme are extremely valid."

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Why Did Meghan Trainor Choose To Have A Child Through Surrogacy?

Trainor wrote Dear Future Mama, a pregnancy and parenting book in 2023, where she talked about her struggles during her first two pregnancies. She mentioned how traumatic was it for her after Riley's birth, when she also faced post-traumatic stress disorder, when her son was rushed to the NICU. At the same time, Trainor was being treated on the surgery table. "Usually when you're being sewn up for 45 minutes, you're like, 'Look at my gorgeous baby. We did it. This is everything.' But I was laying there alone."

She said in that very moment she was so drugged that she called her mother and cried. She had to learn how traumatic that was for her. She also told PEOPLE that she had reached a "breaking point" and struggled with her mental and physical health after Barry's birth. In an essay for Today.com, she wrote: "I was alone with Barry and he would not stop crying and then I was crying. I was having a panic attack and I was just over-exhausted, but I felt like I was dying. I felt if I stood up, I would pass out. I didn’t feel safe holding the baby and at the same time I felt like my body was giving up on me."

With the past medical reasons, especially the impact on her mentally, and other complication, after medical consultations, Trainor chose to go for surrogacy.

Also Read: Parents Are Now Preferring Girls Over Boys; What Led To This Shift?

What Is Surrogacy?

As per Yale Medicine, surrogate mothers are impregnated through the use of in vitro fertilization or IVF. In this process, doctors create an embryo by fertilizing eggs from the intended mother or an egg donor with sperm from the intended father or a sperm donor. Since the surrogate mother does not provide the egg, she is not genetically related to the child.

Emre Seli, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist tells Yale Medicine, “Gestational surrogacy is a great option for people who really want to be parents but have faced long odds."

Should teens be lifting weights? This is a question many people wonder, and Cara Natterson, a pediatrician, finally has answers! "Tweens and teens should not be lifting heavy weights, but they absolutely can do resistance training. There is an important difference between the two," she says.

In an Instagram video, shared by the account @less.awkward, which is ran by Natterson, and Vanessa Kroll Bennett, Natterson explains that during puberty, "the body is flooded with hormones like testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and growth hormone, which together trigger the release of IGF-1, a key driver of growth spurts and cartilage development".

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So, What Happens When A Teen Trains?

“When kids are growing rapidly, the cartilage around their bones is actually weaker than the bone itself, which makes them more vulnerable to injury during weight lifting," she points out. She further explains that in peak growth phases, bones are still mineralizing. They form a scaffold first and fill in later, which means the bones are porous and easier to injure at this stage.

“The most vulnerable part of a growing bone is the growth plate, which sits at the ends of long bones and is the weakest point when it comes to fractures.” Natterson says that if a child gets injured during weight lifting or even sports, the growth plate is often where that injury occurs. This is why kids should not be bearing heavy weights until they are done with their growth spurts, she says. However, she points out that this "does not mean they should avoid strength-building altogether".

“Resistance training, where children use their own body weight, is not only safe but encouraged. Even five, six, and seven-year-olds can do it," she says.

Also Read: Have You Also Noticed Suddenly Becoming Lactose Intolerant? Nutritionist Explains Why

What Is Resistance Training?

Exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, squats, and anything that makes one use their own body weight is safe. Natterson says, “Exercises like push-ups and pull-ups strengthen muscles and improve bone density without putting excessive pressure on weak cartilage, thin bones, or growth plates.”

For more impact, one can use resistance bands. While people also use dumbbells, barbells, and kettlebells, Natterson recommends to avoid any weights during the growth spurt.

Here Are Some Examples Of Resistance Training That One Can Do Without Lifting Weights

Chest Press

• Wrap your resistance band behind your back.
• Hold both ends with your hands and start with your arms at your side.
• Bend your elbows and push the band in front of you.

Bicep Curls

• Stand on the resistance band and hold both ends in hands.
• With your arms extended by side, pull your hand up, keep elbow bent at side.
• Do it with one or both arms.

Squats

• Stand on your resistance band and grab both ends with your hands.
• In a squat position, hold the bands but do not lock your arms.
• Extend your knees until you are in a standing position.

Pull Ups

• Grip a bar with hands shoulder width apart.
• Start with a full hang, then pull your body up by squeezing your shoulder blades down and back until your chin clears the bar
• Then lower down the control and keep your core engaged.

Push Ups

• Start is high plank with hands wider then shoulders.
• Keep your core tight and body in a straight line from head to heels.
• Lower your chest towards the floor by bending elbows to 90 degrees.
• Push back up powerfully to the starting position, maintain a rigid core and straight back throughout.