Back To School Nutrition

The beginning of the school year is an excellent time to make sure your children will be getting the proper nutrition in their meals whether they buy lunch at school or brown-bag it from home.

Because most schools have federal financial support, children from all financial backgrounds have access to nutritious meals during school at a low cost. With all the choices available in schools today, kids may select three to five items from the school lunch menu, perhaps more than one vegetable or several types of milk.

Having choices helps students build smart eating skills. It’s part of “Eating Right” education! You can make sure your kids are eating nutritious meals at school by staying involved:

  • Become familiar with the menu. Keep a copy of the current month’s lunch menu in your kitchen. Ask the school foodservice director for nutrition information.
  • Go over the menu with your child. Talk about making healthful choices.
  • Get to know the school’s foodservice staff. Have lunch or breakfast at school with kids occasionally. Parents are usually welcome to eat a school meal to become familiar with the choices available.
  • When school menus offer burgers, pizza or tacos, encourage your child have a salad, fruit, yogurt or milk to go with them.
  • If your kids are bringing lunch to school, be sure to include a frozen cold pack if there will be any perishable food, such as a sandwich with meat. A frozen juice box or pouch will also keep foods cold.
  • Don’t forget to pack easy-to-eat vegetables like carrot sticks or cucumbers and whole fresh pieces of fruit.
  • Let kids help plan and prepare their lunches. That way, they will be more likely to eat their carrot sticks instead of trading for someone’s cookie. But remember that it’s OK to pack an oatmeal cookie, brownie or individual pudding. Kids may need the extra energy they supply.

Being involved in what your kids eat is an important job that doesn’t stop when they walk out the front door.