Rush-hour traffic, hungry kids, and mountains of homework make
weeknights stressful for any parent. For parents of children
with attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD), the hours from
school dismissal to bedtime can be overwhelming. 1. Focus on
Nutrition. Some studies indicate that diet and nutrition affect
children’s behavior and may reduce or increase the symptoms of
ADHD. Too much sugar and artificial coloring, for instance, can
make some children with ADHD more hyperactive. Have a healthy
snack ready when your child walks in the door. After a long day
at school, where lunch may have been a bag of chips and a soda,
the last thing kids need is more junk food. “Avoid snacks that
are high in simple sugars and fat; instead, choose foods that
are high in nutrients,” advises Laura J. Stevens, founder of
Nutrition in Action, Inc. A nutritious snack could be whole-
grain crackers with natural peanut butter and an apple; a slice
of cold turkey or ham and an orange; or a banana and nuts
(walnuts are particularly nutri