When children learn to play piano or tennis, they need to actually put their fingers on the keys or pick up the racket and swing. Just telling them how to play won’t translate into a sonata or a good backhand.
Adopting healthy eating habits is no different. It requires practice at school as well as at home. And because many children eat breakfast and lunch at school, the USDA’s new standards for school meals will make a health difference for millions of American children.
As a Registered Dietitian I am thrilled with these new standards. I’ve seen many kids and adults alike learn to like new fruits, vegetables and whole grains when they try them over and over and prepare them in different ways. So, exposure to healthy food at home and at school is one important step toward healthier children and, as they grow into adulthood, fewer cancer cases.
Here’s how the new rules improve school lunches:
i with Almonds
Sometimes it’s difficult to find time to work out, and many of us sit at our desks for hours at a time without any movement other than typing. Evenings at home may not be much better if you watch TV or play games at your computer.