Nutrition in schools makes the grade

Parents need to make sure their children are getting the most healthful meals not just at home but at school, said Janice Hermann, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension nutrition education specialist.

“Some kids may be able to understand the MyPyramid, but even the most science-savvy children are not likely to think about the connection between health, nutritional content of food and portion sizes on the plate,” Hermann said.

The USDA requires schools to provide foods that have nutritive value. The school must offer children food items that would allow them to meet one-third of the recommended daily requirements for health.

However, simply offering the foods does not ensure children get a balanced meal that will meet one-third of a day’s nutrition, Hermann said.

Parents can teach their children the importance of making the best choices and how to make the best choices in a variety of ways, Hermann said.

“It’s good for a parent to go over the school menu with a child,” she said. “Parents also model good menu choosing when eating out with their children. Restaurants and cafeteria menus can provide a great teaching opportunity.”

Hermann also said it is important for children to drink their milk during lunch. At other times children should reach for water and not juice or soda when they are thirsty.

“One way parents can make sure their kids are eating a nutritious lunch is to send them to school with packed lunches,” Hermann said.

“Parents need to keep in mind all five dietary components when packing a lunch,” she said. “The lunch should contain moderate portions of starch, protein, dairy, fruit and vegetables.”

Hermann recommended having children help prepare the lunches. Children like to help in the kitchen and are more likely to eat food they prepared themselves, she said.

A good time for the parent to talk to the child about eating nutritiously is while the parent and child are preparing the lunch.

“Children need to understand that eating an excess amount of fat is not good for them,” Hermann said. “They also need to know what a portion size is.”

Hermann explained that a bagel is a nutritious snack for a child, but a whole large bagel may be equivalent to three or four portions.

Hermann said there is nothing wrong with parents buying snacks that come in large packages, but it is important for parents to repackage the snacks in smaller portion sizes.  Children can have more than one serving at a time if they are eating fruit, vegetable or grain snacks.

“By teaching their children about nutrition, parents can make sure the lunch they eat at school will make the grade,” Hermann said.

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Katie L. Reim
Communications Specialist
Agricultural Communications Services
140 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
405-744-6792 (Phone)
405-744-5739 (Fax)
katie.reim@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating: The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.