American kids consume 35 – 50
percent of their daily calories during the school day; that is why schools are
such an important part of the fight against childhood obesity. Eating right and
staying active during the school day not only affects the health of school-age
kids across the country, it also impacts their ability to learn and succeed at
school. Research shows that healthy, properly nourished students are better
able to concentrate on their work, miss school less often, and perform better
in class.
This March, as we celebrate National
Nutrition Month, the Alliance
for a Healthier Generation offers a few helpful tips to help you make sure your
children are getting the nourishment they need and are fueled for school. The Alliance for a Healthier
Generation, a partnership of the American Heart Association and the William J.
Clinton Foundation focused on reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity by
2015, offers more tips and tools online at www.HealthierGeneration.org.
Don’t Skip It:
- The most important meal of the day happens before
your child leaves for school. Starting their day with a nutritious
breakfast can help keep your child focused throughout the school day.
- School breakfast offers a convenient option for
parents whose mornings are too hectic to kick the day off with a healthy
meal. To find out if breakfast is served in your child’s school, talk to
the principal or the cafeteria manager.
Make a Plan:
- If your child purchases lunch at school, take
time to sit down together and read the school menu and discuss the
healthiest options each week so he or she can make good choices at time of
purchase.
- Talk with your kids about the beverages and snacks
available alongside school meals and available in vending machines or the
school store. Encourage healthy choices such as fruit, water, low-fat (1%)
or fat-free milk and 100% juice.
Pack it Right:
- If you send them off with a sack lunch, fill your
child’s lunch with healthy, tasty foods like whole grain bread, fresh
fruits and vegetables, lean meats, low-fat (1%) or fat-free milk and 100%
juice.
- Mix it up and offer your child food from
different food groups. This not only offers variety for your child, but it
ensures a more balanced meal.
- Avoid packaged “convenience” foods such as
full-calorie soda, chips or cookies. These not only add up to a lot of
excess fat, sugar, sodium and calories, but they can lead to an afternoon
“crash” that leaves kids cranky, distracted and not focused on learning.
Go the Extra Mile:
·
Work with your
child’s principal, the school board or food service department to make the
school a healthier place for every child.
- Tell teachers and school staff that you value
their efforts to provide healthy foods and beverages at school.
- Take a tour of the cafeteria and vending machines so you can see
what items your child has access to during the school day.
- Organize “healthy” fundraisers like
walk-a-thons or other non-food fundraising efforts.
- Bring in healthy snacks for school parties and encourage
extra recess or active party games.
- Ask if the school is a member of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s
Healthy Schools Program which provides free support to more than 7,800
schools across the country.
About the Alliance
for a Healthier Generation
The American Heart Association and the William J.
Clinton Foundation joined forces in May of 2005 to create a healthier
generation by addressing one of the nation’s leading public health threats –
childhood obesity. The goal of the Alliance
is to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015, and to
empower kids nationwide to make healthy lifestyle choices. The Alliance works to positively affect the
places that can make a difference to a child’s health: homes, schools,
restaurants, doctor’s offices and communities. For more information please visit:
HealthierGeneration.org.