Breakfast
Did you know that kids do better in school and are more alert when they eat
breakfast? Breakfast is important in helping children to pay attention in
class and remember what they have learned. It also prevents headaches and
stomach aches that are common in children who have skipped breakfast. This
leads to fewer school days missed! Breakfast is the most important meal of
the day. You can help your child achieve more in school each day by
ensuring that they eat breakfast before they leave for school. On days
where you may be running late – don’t forget that our school cafeteria
provides a healthy breakfast for only $1.20. If your child received free or
reduced lunches, they are also eligible to receive free breakfast.
Read the Labels!
Food labels are a source of important information when it comes to feeding
your child. Knowing how many calories, grams of sugar or salt, fat grams
and serving size are important things for you to be aware of when providing
meals or snacks for your child. Many things that you may think of as a
serving size are actually 2 or 3 servings! Reading the labels will help you
provide your child with the nutrition they need and also help you to ensure
that you’re not loading them up with empty calories and sugar.
Can you believe that a cupcake from Costco has 760 calories, 109
carbohydrates, 6 grams of fat, and 84 grams of sugar? That equates to ¼ of
the daily calories recommended and 1/3 of the carbohydrates and fats!
Use the “handy” way to estimate portion size
A way to easily estimate a portion size is using different measurements of
your hand.
• Your fist equals one cup and is 2 servings of cooked vegetables or
pasta
• The palm of your hand is one serving of meat, fish, or poultry
• Your thumb tip is a teaspoon
• Your entire thumb is 2 tablespoons
• The length of one of your fingers is the approximate diameter of a
piece of fruit
List of healthy snacks
• Popcorn or pretzels
• fresh fruits and vegetables, cut up into bite sized shapes, with
peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese
• Crackers and cheese
• rice cakes or mini bagels
• tortillas, pita bread or English muffin halves with healthy toppings
or stuffings
• snack sized jello or low-fat yogurts or pudding
CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Did you know that recess plays an important role in decreasing childhood
obesity? Research documents the important role that recess plays in
combating childhood obesity, increasing student achievement, reducing
behavior problems and supporting children’s cognitive development.
“Today, in all of our focus on academics, we forget that a healthful, well
child is also one who will be better educated,”. “But taking a
break and being active makes children better students. It also gives them
time to socialize and learn how to be a friend.”
The CDC recommends that children have recess for twenty minutes each day,
prior to their lunch time. HSC supports this recommendation and is working
with school leaders on strategies to make it a reality for all children.
To read more and additional information please check out:
http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/newsletters/2008/june.htm
