Healthy Eating Helps Children Learn
Children need a nutritious breakfast and lunch to have energy and learn well in school. Even if you're in a hurry, make sure your child eats something healthy in the morning, such as yogurt, fruit and granola, a tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, or refried beans and cheese.
Help your child decide what he or she wants to eat for lunch. If your child takes lunch from home, let him or her help make it. You can call your child's school to find out the qualifications for a free or reduced-price breakfast and/or lunch program. Offer your child a variety of foods from all five food groups (vegetables, fruits, grains, protein, and dairy). Each group has important nutrients your child needs to grow and stay healthy. Limit juice, soda (including diet soda), and sports drinks. Diet soda is also not a healthy choice for young children The effects of artificial sweeteners on young children are not well known. For more information, visit choose my plate.
Encourage your child to be physically active
Daily physical activity is important for the whole family. Help your child make exercise a habit for life. Aim for 60 minutes of physical activity each day for your child. Try new activities together. Biking, walking, hiking, and swimming may become lifelong activities.
If your child wants to be active in a team sport, try several sports to find the ones that your child likes. Look for programs that are based more on fun and learning skills than winning. Remind yourself that having fun while being active is most important.