When it comes to your child’s brainpower, it seems that both nature and nurture play a role. Louise Fulton Keats looks at how your toddler’s intellectual ability can be affected by the foods you put on her plate. Many of us think our intelligence is something we’re born with, passed down by our parents and set in concrete. While it’s true that genetics play a part, in recent years, we’ve learned that diet also plays an important role in shaping our cognitive ability.