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Your child may be able to recite the contents of the food guide pyramid or tell you the chemical makeup of a protein and the exact definition of a calorie. 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. That’s why it’s up to parents to make sure their children are getting the most healthful meals -- at home and at school.
However, simply offering the foods does not ensure that children get a balanced meal that will meet one-third of a day’s nutrition. Schools also stretch the spirit of these requirements by offering french fries and ketchup as vegetables and fruit-flavored Jell-O as a fruit. Parents can teach their children the importance of making the best choices and how to make the best choices in a variety of ways. “It’s good for a parent to go over the school menu with a child,” says Phillips. “Parents also model good menu choosing when eating out with their children. Restaurant and cafeteria menus can provide a great teaching opportunity.” Parents also can keep nutrition in their own hands by sending their child to school with a packed lunch. However, “parents need to keep in mind all five dietary components when packing a lunch. The lunch should contain moderate portions of starch, protein, dairy, fruit and vegetable,” says Phillips. “If you want your child to get the nutritional benefits of fruit, send fruit, and offer a non-calorie flavored water to keep them hydrated. Children should learn to reach for water first when they are thirsty -- not juice or soda,” says Phillips.
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“The USDA says schools have to sell foods that have nutritive value,” says Glenys Phillips, director of clinical nutrition at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. “To meet these requirements, the school must offer the child food items that would allow the child to meet one-third of his recommended daily requirements for health.”
Add spinach leaves and tomato to a sandwich.