Welcome to Modern Guide to Raising Children
USDA Child Nutrition Article
This is a selection made from among articles on USDA Child Nutrition. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
How to Feed Your Children
from:
The key to a child’s well-being is being active physically and having a good eating habit. As parents, you play an important role in helping your children and the family as a whole, to learn effective physical activities and healthy eating habits.
Nutrition experts designed the food pyramid to guide people in making better and nutritious food choices. Here are the important points of the food pyramid:
1. Eat al least 3oz of whole grains a day.
2. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
3. Three daily servings of low-fat dairy. Examples are skim milk, low fat yogurt and hard cheese.
4. Lean cuts of meat should be served by grilling, baking or broiling.
5. Use safflower and canola oils when cooking. They are much healthier.
There are many health benefits if your child eats a lot of fruits and vegetables. Among these are: reducing the risk of having heart diseases, protection against many forms of cancer, protects against asthma, a great source of energy and it keeps teeth, skin and hair healthy.
A child who is physically active and who eats a balanced diet will most likely-
- grow
- build stronger bone and muscles
- learn
- maintains a healthy weight
- have energy
- can avoid diseases related to obesity
- feels good about themselves
- gets plenty of nutrients
Parents play a vital role in forming the healthy eating habits of a child. Children learn from what their parents usually eat. If parents eat foods that are low in fat and high in fiber, children like these foods as well. It takes several tries before a child accepts a new food on his plate. Don’t give up easily.
Physically active parents can set a good example for their children. Instead of watching television after dinner, why not go out for a stroll in the park or a bike ride.
If both parents are working, be sure to train your child’s guardian to help in shaping good eating and activity habits.
Or if your child is going to school, pack a lunch for him/her which includes variety of foods. Find out if the school offers breakfast or lunch programs and see the menu choices.
Even your child’s playmates can affect the activities and eating habits of your child.
Parents should teach their children to be aware of peer/media pressures to enable them to make healthy choices outside your home.
How can you encourage your children to change unhealthy eating habits? The traditional approach is to inform your children about what he/she should or shouldn’t eat. But according to research, this kind of approach has limited success. Most of the children’s eating habits did not change.
Even if your children know what they should doesn’t mean that they’re doing it anyway. Simply giving them information is not enough; you have to help them change their actual behavior.
That is why some doctors would suggest a healthy eating program for your child.
These programs are established on the basis of psychological principles and are designed to help your children improve their diets. This kind of program is a result of scientific researches of different psychologists in the medical field.
During our childhood, many of our health attitudes are formed. It is therefore important to start improvements with children in order to produce long term results.
 |
 |
USDA Child Nutrition Specific links
USDA Child Nutrition News
USDA TARGETS IMPROVEMENT OF SCHOOL MEAL ENROLLMENT WITH AID TO STATES - USDA.gov (press release)
 HealthNews | USDA TARGETS IMPROVEMENT OF SCHOOL MEAL ENROLLMENT WITH AID TO STATES USDA.gov (press release) "USDA is actively pursuing opportunities to reduce hunger, promote program access, and improve the overall health and nutrition of children and these grants ... USDA Rolls Out Farm To School Programs In Montana Lincoln plans to increase nutrition spending School Nutrition Association Celebrates National School Breakfast Week |
Q&A: School Nutrition Association's Dora Rivas Talks Challenges and Goals - Restaurants & Institutions
 Restaurants & Institutions | Q&A: School Nutrition Association's Dora Rivas Talks Challenges and Goals Restaurants & Institutions 1, proposes $1 billion in additional funding for child-nutrition programs, and the First Lady has partnered with the SNA on an initiative to fight childhood ... Schools look at snack program, success of salad bars Schools face challenges in increasing fresh produce |
Texas co. gets contract for food service software - The Associated Press
Texas co. gets contract for food service software The Associated Press State Office of Child Nutrition Executive Director Richard Goff says the software will simplify management of food service operations. |
Child nutrition workers have Obama on board - Andalusia Star-News
 Southeast Missourian | Child nutrition workers have Obama on board Andalusia Star-News Child Nutrition Programs are also hoping to get an additional 10 cents per meal in USDA commodities for school breakfast. “This would cover anything from ... For healthier kids, increase the federal school lunch budget Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Addresses The School Nutrition Association ... Eat your Cheerios: Frisco ISD's breakfast week part of national reassessment ... |
USDA INVESTS IN THE QUALITY OF SCHOOL MEALS AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE NATIONAL ... - USDA.gov (press release)
 Washington Post (blog) | USDA INVESTS IN THE QUALITY OF SCHOOL MEALS AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE NATIONAL ... USDA.gov (press release) "Our schools are on the frontline of efforts to improve child nutrition and the nutritional quality of school meals and the funding we are announcing today ... Michelle Obama talks to school food group about obesity. Transcript. Fitness her calling First Lady Credits School Cafeteria Programs for Bolstering National Security |