Here's what YOU can do to make a difference!
Talk to Your Kids!
Ask, listen and speak with your kids. Find out from them what they had for lunch and speak together about the importance of developing healthy eating habits.
Have Lunch At School
The USDA encourages parents to eat meals at school. A first-hand experience will answer many of your questions regarding their lunch options and eating habits. Do you like what you see and experience? Do the meals satisfy your children's needs? If not, show you care and make a difference.
Make Your Home A Healthy Home
Keep your refrigerator stocked with healthy foods and cook healthy meals. Use CHOICE recipes to encourage healthy eating.
Speak with Other Parents
Make your opinions heard. Work with your PTA and school board to encourage and support Healthy Meals for Healthy Kid's initiatives. Arrange for PTA presentations.
Form a Nutrition Committee
Request that the PTA to establish a nutrition committee.
Speak with Your Children's Teachers
Introduce CHOICE lesson plans and support materials. Arrange for classroom presentations with local speakers.
Partner with School Food Service Providers
Get to know the school food service providers and thank them for their services. Let them know how important healthy plant-based meals are to you and your children. Share recipes.
Throw a Taste Testing Party
Volunteer to organize a classroom tasting party and introduce new foods the kids may never have tried.
Survey Students
Request permission to survey students and assess their dietary needs and preferences.Organize for Change
CHOICE provides support materials and individual guidance. Review the Effecting Change section of this website and determine what you can do in your local community.Here's what the school should do!
Schools often choose to serve 'kid's favorites,' rather than healthy meals. Instead, ask the school to choose healthy meals that kids like. Work with students to identify those healthy menu items that are most appealing to them, and serve those items more often.
Convincing lesson plans include activities such as taste testing, food preparation, developing menus, visiting farms to pick produce, planting seeds, etc. Research has shown that children who have a direct connection with healthy foods are more likely to include them in their diet.
The school food service should readily provide plant-based options in the form of an alternative entree, nicely prepared vegetable side dishes and milk-substitutes.
Schools should encourage parents as partners in the Healthy Meals for Healthy Kids initiative. It's important they are involved and aware of school lunch procedures.
The key to introducing new meals is student involvement. Students should be given the opportunity to help make the transition to healthier foods.
Forming a nutrition committee solidifies the school's commitment to good health and nutrition.
The NuMenu or Nutrient Standard system provides greater flexibility in meal planning, and more readily guarantees a healthy meal.'Offer versus serve' allows children to choose which items they will eat, thus allowing children to eat only healthier selections.
Water is essential for the growth and maintenance of our bodies. When children don't drink they become dehydrated, causing symptoms like headaches, tiredness and loss of concentration. Chronic dehydration can lead to constipation and kidney stonesMake the Cafeteria Inviting
Utilize the 'Healthy Cafeteria Checklist' put out by Team Nutrition. And make the cafeteria look inviting by providing bright, good lighting, plants, nutrition messages and aesthetically pleasing displays.
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