Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy are thrilled to have the brilliant Lucinda Miller, founder and clinical lead of NatureDoc, joining them to explain and explore the many interesting ways that diet and nutrition can help neurodivergent kids shine. It can feel like a rollercoaster ride at times living with a brain that is wired differently. Learning to nourish your brain is one of the best tools you have, to be able to thrive with your neurodivergent brain. Research has found that when you feed a neurodivergent child’s brain and body with the right vitamins, minerals and healthy fats then focus, learning trajectories, sleep patterns and emotional dysregulation improve immeasurably. Since a child’s brain and body development continues until they are well into their twenties, what they eat now also lays down the foundations of their future health, as well as school achievement, developing social skills and robust mental health. During this delicious and educational demonstration Lucinda Miller, a leading naturopath and child nutrition expert, will share her advice on fostering healthy eating habits, even for highly selective eaters and sugar monsters. She will also share her clinical knowledge about the critical links between the gut microbiome, mind and mood. You will come away from this session feeling confident in your ability to make some of her brain-boosting recipes, and with a full tummy from the delicious and nutritious tasters provided. As clinical lead of the NatureDoc team, and with over 30 years of experience as a naturopath and qualifications in Functional Medicine, Lucinda is triple bestselling author of The Good Stuff, I Can’t Believe It’s Baby Food and Brain Brilliance cookbooks. She and two of her three kids live and thrive with ADHD. There will be some books available for purchase and signing at the event. The recipes covered in this demonstration will be: • Carrot cake overnight oats • Chamomile and cherry sleepy smoothie • Raspberry and peanut butter bliss balls The benefits to the neurodivergent mind of each dish will be explored, with delicious tasters provided.

Description supplied by the event organiser.