Back to School with Fruits & Veggies
With school nearly back in session, life has undoubtedly become more hectic for many of us. What is the healthiest bag lunch for my son? What snack foods will make me and my daughter happy? How can I make a “grab and go” breakfast for my grandchild that I know is good for him/her? These kinds of questions are so common and so perplexing. With a few new tips and strategies about fruits and vegetables, however, you can feel really good about nourishing your school age child(ren).
5 Smart Tips for Parents and Grandparents
- Be a healthy meal role model. Moms, dads and grandparents who eat plenty of fruits and vegetables are setting a good example for their student.
- Plan a shopping list with your student. Talking about what fruits and vegetables belong on the family shopping list is a fun way to make every voice count. It is also a time saver once you get to the store.
- Food shop with your student. A team approach to shopping for fruits and vegetables can be a smart way to empower your student to make healthy food choices.
- Have fun in the kitchen together. Simple and healthy home cooking with fruits and vegetables creates a way for students to gain important skills and bond with their family members.
- Strike a balance. A healthy lifestyle includes many things such as eating meals that include fruits and vegetables, fun exercise, laughter and personal safety.
A Fun and Powerful Breakfast
Breakfast re-fuels a student’s body and brain from a long night of sleep. He/she is more likely to feel good, have lots of energy and do well in school with a daily breakfast that includes fruits and/or vegetables! Try the mix-and-match choices below to create a variety of fun and nutritious breakfast meals for you and your student.
First Course: Fruit or vegetable
Choose One: fresh orange wedges, raw carrot sticks, fresh apple slices, fresh strawberries, edamame (fresh soybeans), fresh blueberries, fresh cantaloupe, coleslaw, peaches, 100% orange juice, 100% purple grape juice, 100% tomato juice
Second Course: Entree
Choose One: oatmeal with sliced bananas, whole wheat cereal flakes with raisins, whole grain toaster waffle topped with vanilla yogurt and blueberries, small whole wheat bagel with light cream cheese and sliced strawberries, or whole wheat tortilla wrapped around chopped fresh apples and sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar
Third Course: Protein
Choose One: turkey sausage, hard boiled or scrambled egg, canned salmon, canned tuna, almonds, walnuts, soynuts or peanuts
Finally … end every breakfast with a cold glass of 1% or skim milk.
