Adderall and Nutrition: Appetite suppression

By levana on September 10, 2017 in Kitchen Stories

While teaching cooking classes to young elementary school children, I noticed that every time we had a class, one skinny little boy never touched anything we prepared. While this is not totally unusual – after all, a lot of kids are picky eaters – something about this little boy made me think something was wrong.

Luckily, his grandmother volunteered at the school and I explained to her how her grandson would never eat anything we cooked- not the chili, the fresh apple sauce, the hummus or even the roasted potatoes with rosemary that everyone devoured. Surely, there was something we could cook that he’d want to eat.

The grandmother confided in me that it wasn’t because he was picky that he wasn’t eating.

“Why then?” I asked. “Does he have food allergies?”

“No, he has ADHD. (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). He’s been given Adderall so he can sit still in class, but unfortunately, it gives him no appetite.”

“What’s he doing for nutrition?” I asked.

“The doctor said he should drink Boost or Ensure,” she replied.

“Did you ever look at the ingredients in those?” I asked.

When you look at a label of Boost or Ensure and some of the other supplemental nutritional shakes on the market, you’ll see they contain more sugar than any other ingredient. They also have additional artificial ingredients. And yes, a child might gain weight from these empty calories, but they’re not very nutritious for a growing adolescent.

While studies are controversial about the relationship of sugar and ADHD, common sense will tell you that a diet high in sugar is linked to diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. And of course, as any teacher will tell you after a school birthday party where there’s a classroom full of cupcakes, excessive sugar intake often causes a temporary surge of energy, followed by a “crash.” Not a very wonderful climate for learning.

ADHD affects nearly 1 in 11 children in the U.S.[1] Its symptoms include problems paying attention, hyperactivity, and behavior difficulties at home and in school. If a child is taking Adderall and does not have an appetite, Levana Nourishments is a perfect alternative to sugary shakes. It’s sugar-free, plant-based and is a complete natural meal in a single packet. It’s delicious in a smoothie and nutritionally it’s high in protein and fiber. Amount of added sugar: zero.