Earlier this year, Gordonstoun announced that its chefs had given their menus a total overhaul, swapping chips for quinoa and packing pupils’ meals with ingredients bursting with antioxidants, omega 3, protein and fibre. With its epic location in the remote Scottish Highlands, the school already has a serious reputation for hearty adventure and physical and mental wellbeing – but we were fascinated to hear about the impact the new menus are having on pupils’ performance in the classroom too.
Gordonstoun is believed to be the first school in the UK to align its menus with the curriculum. Its breakfasts have been redesigned to boost concentration, memory and focus, filled with ingredients such as goji berries and smoked salmon. On match days, pupils have access to a new carbohydrate and protein bar, and heaps of fresh vegetables to help oxygenate their blood, while quantities of oily fish and antioxidants are amped up during exam periods. The school has even introduced its own kitchen garden, and chefs head out foraging for wild garlic and mushrooms.
'This ambitious menu took hard work, dedication and financial investment,’ says Lisa Kerr, Gordonstoun’s principal. ‘However, in the first year of our new menu, our GCSE results were the best ever, levels of obesity are far lower than average and our students have reported higher than expected mental wellbeing during a very challenging year.’
So, what can we parents do to encourage our children to keep their intellectual cogs whirring throughout the day? We asked nutritionist Lucinda Miller to give us her top five brain-boosting superfoods for us all to eat at home...
Does your child’s school report ever say: ‘Could do so much better if only he/she could concentrate more’? This is a scenario we see over and over in our clinic, and we find the right food choices can make a surprising difference to how a child learns. And since a child needs to be fed at least three times a day, you have at least three chances to boost up their brain power every day!
So what are the key foods that can help a child concentrate and focus better at school? Here are my five go-to brain-food ingredients that I always have in my shopping basket. You may not see a big wow to start off with, but building these key foods or ingredients into your family meals on a regular basis really can make a difference.
Blueberries – research has found that a small handful of these dark purple berries at breakfast can help a child concentrate better during class, even during the afternoon. Most children love to munch on blueberries, and you can leave a bowl out at breakfast or sprinkle over porridge or granola.
Oily fish – think salmon, mackerel and sardines, which can be frozen, fresh or smoked. These all contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help with both visual and brain development and are key for concentration. Serve smoked fish at breakfast, or pâté as a sandwich filling as well as during main meals.
Sunflower seeds – full of phospholipids, which are important for emotional regulation, learning and working memory. Munch sunflower seeds as a snack, sprinkle on cereal or crush up and add to biscuits and other baked goodies.
Pumpkin seeds – the key mineral in pumpkin seeds is zinc, and this is a very important one for building a healthy brain. It also helps with immunity and helps children grow. It helps form a good sense of smell and taste, so children who are selective eaters may benefit. Add to granola or sprinkle on porridge or salads, or grind up into pesto.
Eggs – the choline in eggs is another key brain food and helps with learning, memory and self-regulation. Choline helps to build a healthy nervous system. It’s OK for children to eat eggs every day, and we find many with learning difficulties benefit from eating two eggs at breakfast.
Lucinda Miller is the clinical lead at and is the author of two bestselling healthy-family cookbooks, and , which focus on nourishing a child’s brain, immune system and gut.