Have a very Merry Christmas!

C-FB ISD Student Nutrition would like to wish you and your families a safe and Merry Christmas! A big thank you goes out to all of our wonderful staff members who work so tirelessly to provide nutritious and delicious meals to our student population! We would also like to thank our CFB schools' staff members, students and parents for making us proud to be part of the CFB tradition of success! Merry Christmas!

Manager Christmas Party 2013

Each year, we like to bring all of our hard-working managers together to celebrate their great work and to show our appreciation for all that they do! Check out the fun we had this year with crazy hats, goofy managers, and an ornament exchange! A big thank you to all of the managers that attended! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.272555239562509.1073741834.199045663580134&type=3&uploaded=18

Holiday Swaps for a Healthier You

The holidays tend to be a time when quite a bit of eating occurs. The availability of foods during the holidays makes it difficult to maintain healthy eating habits and caloric intake. Read here for some great tips on recipe substitutions that can be made to your favorite holiday recipes to keep you and your family on track: http://ow.ly/rD5sS

Tell us about some of your favorite healthy recipes below!

Healthy, Holiday Makeover for MyPlate

Check out this great information on a healthier, holiday makeover MyPlate from the US Dept. of Agriculture! It demonstrates some healthy holiday swaps and what your plate should look like after you fill it up: http://ow.ly/rD8lT

Early Release Days This Week

Just a reminder for you and your families: Thursday, December 19th and Friday, December 20th are EARLY RELEASE DAYS! Don't forget!

Tasty Menu Options for CFB Students

C-FB students are offered a variety of foods to choose from each day! Each of our four high schools are equipped with 5 main lines: All-American, Pasta Perfetta, Sabroso Tex-Mex, Wok, and Salad Express! So many healthy and tasty options to choose from! You can check out our wonderful menu offerings as well as the nutritional information for them here: http://ow.ly/rGofr

Check Out MySchoolBucks for Online Pre-Pay

Worried about forgetting to check your child's lunch account balance before we return in January? That is no problem with our new, online pre-payment system, My School Bucks. This great system allows you to set up email reminders that let you know when your child's account balance is low and recurring payments that make it easier to keep your child's balance positive! Check out My School Bucks and some of its other great features here: http://ow.ly/rDd71

C-FB Spreads Christmas Spirit

C-FB Cafeteria Personnel love to spread the Christmas spirit to our students and staff! Check out all of the excellent decor that they put up to celebrate the holidays this year! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.269779649840068.1073741833.199045663580134&type=3&uploaded=15

Healthy Holiday Baking

High fat, high sugar, baked goods can be very available during the holidays especially. Read more here to find out how to make small substitutions and changes to your recipes for happier and healthier holiday: http://ow.ly/rpotK

Food Explorer of the Month: Greens (December 17)

Greens

Turnip leaves are sometimes eaten as turnip greens, and they resemble mustard greens in flavor. Turnip greens are a common side dish in southeastern US cooking, primarily during late fall and winter. Smaller leaves are preferred; however, any bitter taste of larger leaves can be reduced by pouring off the water from initial boiling and replacing it with fresh water. Turnip greens also provide tons of calcium for bone health as well as fiber, vitamins A, K, and C, and folate. By eating this delicious vegetable, you can decrease your risk of developing cancer, inflammatory conditions, and infections. Encounter greens on December 17^th, it is sort of like a hot salad to warm you up in the winter.

Check out a great Greens recipe here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Turnip-Greens-105051

Reading Restaurant Nutrition Facts

Did you know that restaurants with a large number of chains are required to provide the nutritional facts for their menu items to consumers? Checking this nutrition information can help you make healthier choices for you and your family! Many restaurants who do not provide in-store nutrition information have it available on their website so that you can check it at home and decide on a healthier choice before you get to the restaurant! You can read more about getting nutrition facts here: http://ow.ly/rpm5q

Tell us about some of your favorite restaurant's healthy options below!

Walk for Your Health

When was the last time you and your family went walking? Research shows that taking a walk each day has physical, mental, and emotional benefits. It can also be a great way to spend more quality time with your family! Read more here:
 http://ow.ly/rpjVy 

December's Did You Know....SCHOOL MEALS HELP KIDS MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT!

SCHOOL MEALS HELP KIDS MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT!

- Research conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture reports that students who eat school meals provided through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program are more likely to be at a healthy weight.
- United States Department of Agriculture also found that students who consume school lunches are more likely than non-participants to consume vegetables, milk and milk products, and meat and other protein-rich foods, both at lunch and over 24 hours. They also report that students participating in school meals consume less soda and/or fruit drinks.
- Students are less likely to gain weight during the school year when in school then during the summer when school is out.
- For the 2013-14 school year, CFB ISD received almost $100,000 in grants to build up nutrition and fitness programs for students!

Tell us how your kids fuel for fitness at home!