Now I know a lot of us have children who, from time to time, drive us nuts. We feel like pulling our hair out because they won’t stop screaming and living off only a couple of hour’s sleep a day (5.51am this moring my little boy wanted Toby from Thomas the Tank Engine, desperately!) is the norm for hectic mums (and dads).

I have read a number of articles in the past which state that some behaviour  issues in children can be linked to what  children eat and the amount of sugars and additives that they consume through fizzy drinks, crisps, white bread & pasta, chocolate, sweets and so on. Not rocket science when you think about it but it does give you ‘food for thought’. 

from dailymail.co.uk

The original article in 2007 announced proof that food additives are bad for you (especially children) and that chemicals found in children’s food had a strong link with temper tantrums, poor concentration, autism, allergies and asthma. Pretty scary when you think about it!

I was recently introduced to The Mend Programme, by a friend who was stuggling with ‘hyperactivity’ in her young boys, which made them difficult to discipline and control and in turn at times made her life hell.

MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do it!) is an organisation dedicated to reducing global childhood and family overweight and obesity levels by educating parents and their children what is good and bad for them. Instead of saying “No you can’t have that” they educate the child on the reasons why, suggesting that fruit is healthier for them and will make them stronger as they grow. They have a 20-year research partnership with the UK’s most eminent child health organizations - Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London Institute of Child Health - and focus on eliminating food additives in your children’s diet, leading to better behaved children. These food additives also lead to children having allergy problems such as food intolerances and asthma so cutting them out is truly the best idea. The programmes run twice a week after school in two-hour sessions over 10 weeks so its manageable to keep to and doesn’t disrupt the rest of your week.
 
There are three programmes suitable for children of different ages so everyone is catered for:
- The MEND Programme for 7-13 year olds
- The MEND programme for 5-7 year olds
- The Mini-MEND programme for 2-4 year olds

They say you’ve got to see it to believe it and if I hadn’t seen the proof I would have thought it was a bit arty farty and wouldn’t get results. My friend’s children are living proof that it does.

So if you have overweight children and are finding it hard to control them, just take a look at the MEND website and see what you think - an easier life might be just round the corner!