As a parent, you have the ability to help make the school meals a positive and exciting experience for your child. School meals have whole grains, fruits, and vegetables; low-fat milk; and less salt and fat. Help your child check out these new meals and find what they like. It takes time to get kids to learn to like new foods. Here are some tips to help your children eat healthy foods:
- Make time to join your child for lunch in the school cafeteria.
- When your child gets home from school, ask what s/he ate for lunch.
- Eat meals with your child as much as you can and let your child see you eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Grocery shop with your child. Talk about where vegetables, fruits, grains, milk and meat come from.
- Try new foods and describe how they smell, feel and taste. Offer one new food at a time and serve something your child likes with that new food.
The Parent Toolkit
or download the sections, individually:
- School Meals Summary
- Key Messages For Parents
- Key Messages for Students
- Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act – School Meals Overview
- Recipes for Healthy Kids – Cookbook for Homes
- Tips for Parents (CSPI Resource)
Tweet Library
10 Tips Nutrition Education Series (in English and Spanish - except where indicated)
- Healthier Middle Schools: Everyone Can Help – Parents
- MyPlate Mini Poster: What’s on Your Plate? (English & Spanish)
- Dietary Guidelines Consumer Brochure: Let’s Eat For The Health Of It
- Press Release: USDA Unveils Historic Improvements to Meals Served in America’s Schools
- Let’s Move Blog: Healthy Meals and Healthy Kids