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Advice for Parents
How parents can encourage healthy eating habits in their children: · Be a positive role model -- practice what you preach. If you're not eating healthy, your children won't. · Use dinner time as family time -- get the kids involved in planning and preparing the food. · Also, repeal the clean plate rule -- children eat when they're hungry and stop eating when they've had enough. · Don't use food as a reward. · Make healthful food available, like low-fat yogurt, ready-to-eat fruits and veggies with low-fat dip, string cheese, 100% fruit juice, whole-grain crackers and popcorn. · You can't cut the treats all together -- allow them once in a while so they won't overeat if there's an opportunity. · When you present a new vegetable or other food, and the children refuse them, don't give up. It may take 10 or more times of presenting a food before a child tries it. · When you eat out, watch out for large servings, extra meat and bacon, fatty sauces, fried foods and soda. · Children's drinks should be water, low-fat milk, and some 100% fruit juice. Limit soda to special occasions. - from Lydia Martin, registered dietitian What about you?
Federal Guidelines
There are federal guidelines that must be followed from the USDA and Congress: · Over the course of a week, no more than 30 percent of the calories can come from fat · No more than 10 percent of calories can come from saturated fat. · And lunches must contain one third of the recommended dietary allowance for protein, vitamin A, C, iron and calcium throughout a week. The Dietary Guidelines of 2005 recommendations · No more than 30-35% of the calories for kids should be from fat. · Half of the grains consumed should be whole grains. · Variety in fruits and vegetables. · Try fish at least once a week - and not fish sticks. · Choose fat-free and low-fat dairy products. · Don’t overfeed. Local School Lunch Menus Online
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Child Health, Nutrition and Obesity Articles
Links for more information
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