By the time he comes home from school, my son is tired though he eats a good lunch. He gets home at 4 p.m. in the school bus. As a result, he is in a bad mood for one-two hours after coming home. I am sure lack of food is the main reason. How can I get him to eat better?

If your son doesn’t eat well at lunch, an additional drink could help. A little bottle of fruit juice, flavoured glucose or flavoured milk could provide additional energy. Or, pack an additional snack box to eat on the return journey home.

You could also keep a drink or snack handy to eat as soon as your child gets home. Remind him to drink water frequently. Dehydration can also cause fatigue and mood swings.

Though you may be seeing the effect only after school, don’t ignore breakfast, the most important meal. If breakfast is ignored in the morning rush, setting the alarm 10-20 minutes earlier might help. A full glass of milk, a breakfast rich in carbohydrates and a few nuts or dry fruits will help to keep up energy levels.

If your child is fussy in the mornings, resort to quick fix options like cornflakes or bread and cheese. So if your child refuses breakfast, you can offer a different option instead of letting him go to school without it.