Healthy Eating for Kids

Getting children to eat healthy can seem impossible. Once you’ve accomplished this mission at home, what happens when they’re away from home, especially at school? If daily lunch menus consisted of pizza, fries, and hamburgers, most children would be pleased. Parents should be encouraged because lunch menus have changed drastically. While children may be served the occasional hamburger and cookie as a treat for the week, the goal of school lunches is to encourage kids to make better food choices. Currently, over 90 percent of schools are successfully meeting the new meal nutrition standards. Schools are serving meals with more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, low fat dairy, and are using less sodium and fat. Listed are healthy eating resources to assist parents and children with making better eating choices:

Books
Home for Dinner: Mixing Food, Fun, and Conversation for a Happier Family and Healthier Kids
Get Your Family Eating Right!: A 30-Day Plan for Teaching Your Kids Healthy Habits for Life
Portion Size Me: A Kid-Driven Plan to a Healthier Family
Trim Kids: The Proven 12-Week Plan That Has Helped Thousands of Children Achieve a Healthier Weight

Sound Recordings
Give Peas a Chance

Websites
United States of Agriculture/Healthy Meals Resource System
The Problem with Your Child's School Lunch 
School Lunches-Kids Health
So What Can Parents Do To Encourage Healthy Eating In
Encouraging Children to Eat Healthy-Healthy Child

Blogs
Eat Healthy/Let’s Move!
Four Tips For Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits Among Kids...

Yolanda Hardy
Smithfield Library