Following in the footsteps of the incredible edible egg or cereal commercials promoting the need for a good breakfast for success at school, Chicago Public Schools are focusing on the lunches they server their students to meet new school nutritional standards.
According to Catalyst, “By the Fall, every CPS school will have a new menu featuring healthier options like these”, CPS Logistics Coordinator Louise Esaian said.
Chicago schools are not alone in their focus on better offerings for kids from school cafeterias. Organizations like the School Nutrition Association and FoodTrust.org have revamped the focus on school nutrition to healthier options to our kids at lunch time.
Keeping our kids focused on healthier food like fruit and whole grains in lieu of the old lunch offerings of French fries and pasta will not only help our kids focus more effectively after their lunch hour, but could have a significant effect on the obesity issues in the US.
When a child eats a carb-loaded lunch or one full of fatty foods, they can become languorous and lose focus for the rest of the day. Some kids have lunch as early as 10:30 in the morning, meaning that they could lose more than half the day’s learning just because their lunch wasn’t nutrient rich.
The government’s renewed approach to education includes a focus on health as a regular part of teaching and curriculum, with the intention of building stronger and more prepared members of society. The school lunch adjustments to healthier fare are the first step towards teaching our children how to have a healthy relationship with food.
At home, it’s important to continue the lesson about eating well, choosing vegetables and fruit in lieu of chips and pretzels and baked dinners over fried food. By choosing better meals at home, you’ll give your child the tools their body needs to grow and stay energized.
Posted By: Paul Adams
Monday, May 17th 2010 at 10:11AM
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