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Healthy Eating Before, During and After School

Each school day should begin with a healthy meal, even though hectic morning schedules often make it difficult to prepare well-balanced breakfasts.

For many kids, this most important meal of the day may end up being a high-fat, high-sugar, high-calorie pseudo breakfast.

Just because you’re short on time does not mean breakfast has to be short on nutrition.

There are a number of healthy food choices perfect for on-the-go munching including 100 percent fruit juice boxes, fresh fruit slices, string cheese, yogurt and muffins.

And, whoever said breakfast had to be bacon and eggs? A ham and cheese sandwich or a thermos of homemade soup can also be delicious and nutritious alternatives to conventional breakfast foods. What’s important is that your child is getting all the nutrients she needs to meet the day’s physical, mental and emotional challenges.

During the school year, lunch is the meal parents have the least control over what their child eats. A boring lunch from home can easily be swapped or tossed in the garbage, while many school cafeterias tempt children with meals similar to those prepared at their favorite fast food restaurant chains.

Take time to teach your child about nutrition and making health food choices. If your child brings his lunch to school, involve him in the planning and preparation. Ask him what he’d like rather than making the decisions for him. Many school cafeterias that offer a variety of food choices post a weekly lunch menu. If your child buys lunch at school, go over the menu with him to help him select the healthiest meals.

Many kids come home from a long hard day hungry for an after-school snack. Be sure to stock up on plenty of light, healthy snacks to tide them over until dinner. Popcorn or crackers with peanut butter or cheese instead of chips or cookies; yogurt fruit smoothies instead of ice cream; and raisins, dried fruits and nuts instead of candy are some good alternatives.

If you feel your child still needs some added nutrition, Vitaball Vitamin Gumballs are a great way to get the vitamins kids need for proper growth and development. Learn more…

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Online Time with Kids

Here’s a great opportunity for you to spend some time online with your kids and learn the facts about healthy eating. Check out these fun interactive sites together!

Go on a Nutrition Exploration!
http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/kids/main.asp

Interactive games, activities, fun recipes and more to help kids learn about healthy eating and staying active. Kids will also learn about the Five Food Groups and the Food Guide Pyramid.

Take the MyPyramid Blast Off Challenge!
http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/index.html

Your mission is to pilot the MyPyramid rocket ship successfully to Planet Power by making healthy food and physical activity choices. Other activities, specifically designed for kids, ages 6-11, include coloring pages, meal planning worksheets and posters.

Visit the Nutrition Café – Where Nutrition Information is Fun!
http://exhibits.pacsci.org/nutrition/

Take a seat in the cafe and get acquainted with the food groups through games, including the Nutrition Sleuth challenge and the Grab a Grape question-and-answer test, as well as an interactive food guide and a nutrition glossary.

Every Label Has a Story
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/labels.html

The Nutrition Facts label on a food package is a lot like the table of contents in a book because it tells you exactly what the food contains. Check out the KidsHealth website to learn the inside story.

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Other Healthy Kids Resources

Do You Know Your Child’s Dietary Needs?
When it comes to children’s dietary needs, one size does not fit all. Use the USDA’s MyPyramid Plan assessment tool to learn your child’s specific needs based on his or her age, gender and activity level.

Healthy Tips for Families on the “Drive Thru Diet”
Are fast food restaurants your family’s kitchen away from home - a convenient way to grab breakfast on the way to school, lunch after an afternoon of shopping or dinner on the way home from soccer practice? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, it has been reported that about one quarter of the US population eats fast food every day!
While many people associate fast food with an unhealthy diet, there are healthier options to choose from at these establishments – you just need to know what they are and where to find them. Download this article for tips to Eating Healthy On the Run…

The Sweet Truth About Sugar
Does sugar really make kids hyper? Or fat? Get the truth and learn how sweets really affect your child and the key to moderation.

Vitamin Information
Learn about the 12 essential vitamins including their benefits to the body and what foods you need to eat to get them.

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