Integrated Learning Strategies (ILS) is a learning and academic center. As a reminder, ILS is not a health care provider and none of our materials or services provide a diagnosis or treatment of a specific condition or learning challenge you may see in your child or student. If you seek a diagnosis or treatment for your child or student, please contact a trained professional who can provide an evaluation of the child.

Over the past few years, as we have talked with friends and family members, I’ve discovered something interesting. More and more people are adding new additions to their family, and I’m not talking about kids. Funny enough, it’s Bees! Now why would more people purchase beehives for their own backyard if those pesky bugs like to sing kids and other friends who want to come visit? You are most likely to become very unpopular right?

Well, the truth is most people purchase their own beehives to get the health benefits of raw honey. In today’s world, we have unfortunately cut out many of those natural foods our ancestors used to eat with incredible amounts of nutritional value and replaced it with foods what have more processed and refined sugar you find in cookies, donuts, Lean Cuisine meals, breads, and pasta.

Raw honey is not only better for you, it also acts as a natural sweetener for the foods you eat to stay healthy, and above all, it makes you smarter! That is why we encourage so many of our students to eat healthy meals and incorporate raw honey in their diet so the brain can take advantage of the natural health remedies it provides.

Studies show adults and children who incorporate more honey in their diet, have a better memory and develop an even better memory over time. This is especially important for children so they can help retain the information they learn in the classroom and while listening to their teacher.

What’s even more interesting, is local honey from your own backyard or from a local farmer helps prevent springtime allergies for both you and your children. Other great benefits of eating raw honey include: less anxiety and stress, strengthens immunity, boosts energy, reduces morning sickness, increases weight-loss, and much more. So, if you have a child struggling with a learning disability, anxiety, or allergies, raw honey is a great way to help strengthen brain while helping them cope with difficult emotions and learning challenges.

Before you get all excited and head to the grocery store keep in mind that eating the regular honey you get on the shelf at Target and eating raw honey from a local vendor is very different. During pasteurization and processing, honey loses its natural vitamins and enzymes the body needs to get the right health benefits. This is the exact reason so many of my friends are becoming beekeepers to make their own raw honey. Try finding a local farmer that sells honey or visit a whole foods market that sells raw honey. These are great alternatives if you don’t want to be your own beekeeper and will most likely prevent you from ever being stung. (wink wink).

Now, let’s get to more important topics like eating the raw honey! Here are some great ways to add raw honey in your child’s diet without adding additional foods that have the sugars that are bad for you.

• Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwiches: This sandwich is one of my favorites. Not only is raw honey delicious on a sandwich with whole wheat bread, but the combination with peanut butter is wonderful for you. The protein in peanut butter has great nutritional value that goes great with honey.
• Honey for Breakfast: Raw honey is great with whole-wheat toast or when you add it oatmeal or yogurt with some granola. Remember to get plain yogurt as a much healthier option that doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners and add raw honey with a dash of cinnamon. It’s delicious and so good for you and your brain!
• Drink Up the Honey: Raw honey doesn’t always have to be used on food; it can also be used in smoothies and drinks as natural sweeteners. Kids really love the natural sweetness honey provides in a homemade pina colada or strawberry smoothie. Another great drink you can try not only for your kids, but for yourself is adding honey to some warm water with a squeeze of lemon. Honey does contain fats that are good for you, which can make your tummy feel full. Including honey in a warm drink can keep your child full longer while he or she is at school and it gives them the added benefits for learning. In addition, it’s a great weight-loss drink for adults too.
• Spice Up Dinner: For dinner, try adding raw honey to your sweet potatoes and squash as a substitute for butter and sugar. You can also add a little raw honey and squeeze of orange juice to your chicken as a way to give it some great flavor. All of these options are wonderful for you and give you the health benefits you and your kids need for learning and overall wellness.

Integrated Learning Strategies is a Utah-based center dedicated to helping mainstream children and children with learning challenges achieve academic success. Our services provide kids with non-traditional tutoring programs within the Davis County, Kaysville, Layton, Syracuse, Farmington, and Centerville areas. Areas to find Integrated Learning Strategies include: Reading tutors in Kaysville, Math tutors in Kaysville, Common Core Tutors in Kaysville, Tutors in Utah, Utah Tutoring Programs