Managing your child’s sweet tooth can be challenging, but did you know that the mineral chromium plays a vital role in reducing sugar cravings? Chromium helps balance blood sugar levels, leading to fewer cravings for sugary snacks and more stable energy throughout the day.

Why It Matters:

✔ Reduces Sugar Cravings & Mood Swings: A deficiency in chromium can lead to mood swings, irritability, and intense sugar cravings—especially when your child is hungry.

✔ Balances Blood Sugar: Chromium enhances insulin’s effectiveness, keeping blood sugar levels steady and preventing energy crashes.

✔ For general health, Children aged between 4-11 years need around 23mcg-30mcg and children aged between 12-17 years need around 30mcg-50mcg daily. Your child can get it through foods like eggs, oats, broccoli and many more ideas below.

What You Need to Know:

While chromium is often found in kids and teens multivitamin supplements, it’s beneficial to include chromium-rich foods in your child’s meals. Wholegrains are a great source of chromium, up to 98% is lost during refining wholegrain to white flour! Therefore, diets high in white rice, white pasta, and white bread are often deficient in this crucial mineral.

Instead, try these chromium-rich foods:

✔ Whole Grains – Oats, brown rice, and whole wheat bread
✔ Lean Proteins – Chicken, eggs, and turkey
✔ Vegetables – Broccoli, peppers, potatoes, and green beans

Read more about nutritional supplementation here

How to Implement Change

Today’s Challenge: Incorporate the above foods into your child’s diet to help manage their sugar cravings naturally.

📌 Next email: Healthy Snack Swaps to Curb Cravings

Wishing you and your child the best of health and happiness,

The COGNITION for Smart Kids & Teens Team