Helping Children Form Healthy Habits

Snacks that we provide to children will help them to form either healthy or unhealthy habits that will stay with them for many years. A great way to make sure that your children snack on healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, etc. is to bag up healthy snack foods in the appropriate portions similar to the picture shown below:

Check out some of our other great healthy habit ideas on our Pinterest page! Tell us about some healthy habits you employ at home!

http://www.pinterest.com/cfbsns/healthy-habits/

Food Explorer of the Month: Edamame (January 27)

Edamame

 

Edamame is a green vegetable more commonly known as a soybean, harvested at the peak of ripening right before it reaches the "hardening" time. The word Edamame means "Beans on Branches," and it grows in clusters on bushy branches. To retain the freshness and its natural flavor, it is parboiled and quick-frozen. In East Asia, the soybean has been used for over two thousand years as a major source of protein. Edamame is consumed as a snack, a vegetable dish, used in soups or processed into sweets.  Edamame is high in antioxidants, quality protein, fiber, and phytoestrogens which can help prevent cancer and inflammatory infections. By providing protein, edamame also helps to keep you full longer. Uncover a new vegetable on January 27, when you try edamame salad! 

Enjoy edamame the tasty way here: http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/817339/Edamame-Recipes

 

Cleaning Up Meal Choices

How often do you think about cleaning up your meal choices. Check out these great tips to make your meals healthy: http://ow.ly/sxJNb

Cancelling Out the Clean Plate Club

Did you know that we are all born with inherent portion control? Our bodies tell us to stop eating when we have had enough food to eat and satisfied our hunger. Telling your children to "Clean their plate" or "Keep eating" when they have stopped encourages overeating and can ultimately override their inherent ability to know when to stop eating. Read more here: http://ow.ly/sxIKd http://ow.ly/i/4hkpq

Grocery Shop the Healthy Way

Attempting to grocery shop in a healthful way can be a exhausting and expensive! Check out these great tips broken down by each section of the grocery store to learn more about what to buy and what to avoid: http://ow.ly/sxHEX
 

Varying Your Vitamin D

Getting adequate Vitamin D is essential for your bone and immune system health. During the winter months, children don't spend as much time in the sun because it is too cold which can result in inadequate Vitamin D. Read more here to learn how to make sure you and your children get enough Vitamin D: http://ow.ly/siZc1

Welcome Back

C-FB would like to welcome back our students and staff from what we hope was a safe and happy holiday season! We would also like to encourage you to grab one of our healthy, tasty meals to help get back into the swing of things!

Healthy 2014 Resolutions

The new year of 2014 has begun and many of you are likely thinking of resolutions to kick it off! Making reasonable, healthy resolutions for you and your family can be a great way to ensure you have a great year! It is important to make your goals reasonable so that they are achievable for you and your family. Here are some healthy, family resolutions to consider:

- Spend more time outdoors with your kids: 20-30 min. a few times per week can help you and your children to be more active
- Encourage more family time without distractions: TV, video games, and other technology can distract from family time which should be about enjoying each other's company
- Eat more meals at home: Restaurants and fast food can be enticing because they are quick and easy but they can also be high in fat, sugar, and sodium. Eating at home encourages family time together, healthy eating habits, and allows you to have more control over what your child eats.
- Share meals together at the dinner table: Eating meals as a family provides time to catch up, enjoy companionship, and also share a healthy meal. With everyday distractions, meal time can be the best time to make sure you get quality time with your family.
- Eat breakfast every day: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Make sure that your children get it every day whether it is at home, school, or in the car to ensure that they get off to a great start! 
- Snack on fruits and vegetables daily: Snacking between meals to get energy is important but what we snack on is just as important. Grab different fruits and vegetables to get a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Prepare meals and snacks with your kids: Get your kids involved in prepping food so that they learn healthy habits and spend time with you!
- Make your plate like MyPlate: The MyPlate provides a great example of how to put together a healthy plate for your meals. Include all food groups and in the appropriate portions as seen below:

January's Did You Know...SCHOOL MEALS HAVE COME A LONG WAY!

SCHOOL MEALS HAVE COME A LONG WAY!

- Today, kids are offered healthy, tasty, and appealing choices that include:
         - Fresh fruits and vegetables
         - Whole grains
         - Reduced or no trans fat
         - Fresh salads
         - Pizza with whole wheat crust, low-fat cheese, and low-sodium sauce
         - Whole grain pasta
         - Baked items rather than fried items
- School meals must meet federal nutrition guidelines that limit fat and saturated fat, contain age-appropriate portion sizes, and provide the right balance of protein, dairy, grains, fruits, and vegetables for our students!

What healthy school meals have your children told you about?