Top 8 cereal bars: A fast fuel fix

Fuel your child for a high-energy day at school with the right foods.

For peak performance, it’s essential to have a selection of nutrients each day, or at least over a week. Plenty of water instead of sugary fizzy drinks is a good start, along with at least one small piece of fruit. Some protein in the form of eggs, meat, fish (sardines, tuna) will sustain them and keep energy from flagging and can be topped up with an occasional sweet treat.

We all know that sugary substances provide a short-term high, but dried fruit in cakes and biscuits have at least more natural sugars and some fibre, and when combined with eggs, butter and flour in home-made cakes have some nutritional value. The trick is to give these as treats and not part of the everyday plan. However, there is a lot to be said for introducing fruit as a treat instead of a sugary snack.