Kids in the kitchen - thank you to the Lunch Ladies!

Thank you cards from kids to the Lunch Ladies! See what kids have to say after visiting the kitchen to see how school lunch is made:

STUDENTS TASTE NEW MENU ITEMS

Students at Parker Varney Elementary School will be taste testing "triangle" pizza and spicy boneless chicken wings in the upcoming weeks as a result of a school lunch survey about 2300 students completed about the school lunch program.

 Beech Street Elementary students tested macaroni and cheese this past week. The macaroni and cheese not only pleased the students but also met the USDA requirements for calories, saturated fat, and sodium. The results were a "thumbs up". 

Jim Connors, Director of School Food Services and his staff have been working on an action plan with the Parker Varney students to add some of the items that the students had requested. The key is to add some of these items on the menu while still meeting the USDA regulations for the National School Lunch Menu. Watch out for some of these additions for June and the fall of 2015! 

National Nutrition Month 2015

The National Nutrition Month (NNM) theme, “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle”, is the 2015 theme sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The theme is based on research
that shows people purchase foods that taste good over foods that are nutritious. This year’s theme encourages Americans to adopt healthy eating and physical activity plans that are focused on fewer calories, making informed food choices, and getting daily exercise in order to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of chronic disease and promote overall health.

Based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommendations and MyPlate messages, NNM is a nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. For more information on NNM and promotional resources, visit www.eatright.org.

Courtesy of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Eat Breakfast at School - Make it Your New Year's Resolution!

Mornings can be really crazy! The alarm doesn’t go off. The kids don’t want to get up and there’s no time to eat breakfast before the bus comes…or they’re just not ready to eat. Maybe your teenager grabs a can of soda and a candy bar on the way to school. If this sounds like your house, we have good news for you.

Breakfast is served at school! School breakfast will give your child a healthy start to the day. A nutritious breakfast helps students be more alert so they can learn more in class. Breakfast has vitamins and nutrients for a strong and healthy body. Research shows that children who eat breakfast have better attendance and academic performance at school.

Breakfast at school is affordable, too. If you qualify for free and reduced price meals, you also qualify for the breakfast program with no additional paperwork. You can’t find a healthy breakfast at such a low cost anywhere else.

Help your child start the day right with school breakfast!!

Strategies for Holiday Eating

As the holidays approach, so do the numerous parties. This can present many challenges when trying to eat healthy. Here are some helpful strategies to keep your outings healthy and happy.

• Move your socializing away from the food.
• Start your day with smaller meals if you plan on treating yourself later.
• Include as many fruits and vegetables as you can either prior to the party or during the party.
• Don't starve yourself prior to the party. It takes 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain you are full. You can eat a lot in 20 minutes.
• Don’t rush to eat– take time to socialize.
• Start off with a nonalcoholic, low-calorie drink.
• If there is a buffet, scan the entire buffet before putting every food item on your plate.
• Include some type of exercising when possible. Walking or climbing the stairs are activities that don't require going to the gym.
• Maintain weight rather than setting a goal for weight loss during the holidays to avoid disappointment.
• Most of all, enjoy the holidays!