The healthy choice for our children

As all you parents well know, school will be starting soon (yeah!). And with all the preparations busy parents must make to get their youngsters ready, one of the things parents will be pondering is what their children will be having for lunch while they are in school (and possibly breakfast).

Children need healthy nutrition at school as well as home Children need healthy nutrition at school as well as home

The First Lady Michelle Obama is recruiting major food manufacturers to create their products in a more healthy manner, such as less sodium, more healthy ingredients, etc. It's called the Let's Move! campaign, and it's designed to help reduce obesity in children. Well, the School Nutrition Association is also on board. Last month, the SNA held their annual National Conference in Dallas. More than 5,000 school nutrition professionals attended the school nutrition industry's largest exhibition floor. More than 340 companies showcased healthy, energy-efficient and kid-friendly improvements at 760 exhibit booths.

School nutrition professionals are working hard to follow the guidelines of Michelle Obama's Lets' Move! campaign, by providing healthier, more nutritious, and also kid-friendly products that children may see in their school cafeteria this fall. Some of the products that were exhibited:

Fruits and Vegetables. Fresh, ready-to-eat, single-serve, prepackaged cut fruits and vegetables including sliced carrots, citrus fruits, berries, US-grown dry peas, lentils and chickpeas.
Beverages. Low sugar, low calorie flavored and plain milk in 1% and fat free varieties; soy beverages, made with organic soybeans; 100% juice and flavored waters.
Dairy – Low-fat and shredded cheeses, yogurt, cottage cheese
Whole grain and multigrain products. Pasta, noodles, tortillas, cereals, breads and pizza crust.
Nutrient-rich spreads and dips. Hummus, sour cream, dips, creams, butter
Lean protein. Genuine Alaska pollock; whole muscle pork, beef, and turkey products; egg-based entrees and lean deli meats.
Healthy student favorites. Pizzas with whole grain crusts, low-fat cheese, and low sodium toppings; zero trans fat, baked potato fries and wedges, including sweet potato fries; breaded whole-grain chicken products; high quality, calcium-rich ice cream.
Peanut-free alternatives. A variety of spreads including soy nut butter and sunflower seed butter.
Energy efficient equipment. Combi ovens, serving counters, self-service salad bars, milk merchandisers, convection ovens, heated cabinets and point-of-sale systems.

Childhood obesity has more that tripled in the past 30 years. The First Lady, and most of the rest of the country involved in feeding our children, our putting their best foot forward in providing healthy, tasty, and most important, nutritious food for our young ones to enjoy while they are in their learning environment. Healthy, well-fed children mean more active children. And more active children mean childhood obesity rates will go down. And really, what could be better than that?

Your health deserves care!

Thursday, August 5, 2010