Two Ways to Make a Kid Smarter
Martha states there were two key factors to make a kid smarter. The first one is to feed his/her brain:
Foods rich in omega-3 fats–such as salmon, fresh tuna, herring, and sardine–contain something called eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA. EPA does three things: It boosts blood flow to the brain, it helps make hormones that boost brain function, and it helps boost the immune system by acting as an anti-inflammatory agent.
A study published in the journal Pediatrics showed that kids who took fish-oil supplements, which contain omega-3, showed huge improvements in spelling, IQ, and reading. Even their behavior got better.
The second is the time factor. Stay together for leisure and do some activities to challenge a kid’s mind, like reading or other brain-boosting activities. Even the most gifted child needs his/her parent’s help to know how to listen, observe, ask questions and organize and share information. These are the fundamental skills of learning.
March 1st, 2006 at 8:28 am
My daughter loves broiled samon and rice when served with home made teriyaki sauce. Recipe from Cooks Illustrated:
1/2 cup soy sauce;
1/2 cup sugar;
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger;
1 clove garlic , minced;
2 tablespoons mirin;
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch;
Combine soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and garlic in small saucepan; stir together mirin and cornstarch in small bowl until no lumps remain, then stir mirin mixture into saucepan. Bring sauce to boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced to 3/4 cup and forms syrupy glaze, about 4 minutes.
(Mirin, a sweet Japanese rice wine, is a key component of teriyaki; it can be found in the international section of most major supermarkets and in most Asian markets. If you cannot find it, use 2 tablespoons white wine and an extra teaspoon of sugar. If desired, low-sodium soy sauce can be used in place of regular soy sauce.)
March 1st, 2006 at 8:57 am
Hi, Patrick
My son and daughter love Japanese food very much, teriyaki chicken is one of their favorite Japanese dish. Thanks for your recipe.Yummmy ! I’d definitely try yours because I only buy some ready-made sauce to cook. The homemade one must hook them up.