MISSION NUTRITION – Fruits & Veggies ROCK!
October begins the season of candy and holiday treats and food can be a fun part of any celebration. Creating lifelong, healthy eating habits doesn't have to mean eliminating sweets like candy and cookies, but rather eating them in moderation and encouraging our children to try a wide variety of nutritious foods.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): Most Americans still aren’t eating enough vegetables, and fruit consumption has dropped slightly. Eating a colorful variety of fresh, frozen, canned, and dried fruits and vegetables is an easy and positive step in helping to lead a healthy life.
- Children who eat a healthy school meal are more likely to stay focused and perform their best academically.
- Healthy eating correlates with fewer trips to the school nurse and less absenteeism.
- Students who pack a healthy lunch or plan to eat a healthy cafeteria lunch are less likely to gain weight during the school year.
- Use whole grain or wheat bread, wraps, or pitas instead of white bread.
- Use baked chips, veggies and low-fat dip or air popped popcorn instead of fried chips.
- Include fresh cut fruits or fruit in natural juices instead of fruit cups with fruit in syrup.
- Don't include soda in your child's lunch, instead try low-fat milk, water, or 100 percent fruit juice.
- Try to include food from the major food groups - grains, fruits and vegetables, dairy foods, and proteins.
- Be creative in including new lunch items as often as possible.
For (INSERT YOUR SCHOOL'S NAME HERE), (INSERT START DATE HERE) will also kick off MISSION NUTRITION. Our goal is to see all our students eating healthy lunches filled with variety, fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods. Students should keep their eyes peeled for the (INSERT MISSION NUTRITION VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION HERE, (i.e. School Nurse, “Fruit Lady”, etc.) at lunch time, who will be handing out special prizes to help celebrate our students' healthy lunch choices.
