The Importance of Your Child’s Nutrition

When a child enters school he has different food options: bringing lunch from home, buying food from the cafeteria, or a combination of both. However, parents do not really know what their child does with the
food—whether he or she ate it, gave it away, or threw it out in the trash. Teachers are not obligated to feed their students or make them eat. Ask your child if he or she ate the food and also ask the teacher if your child is eating.

Try to buy light and nutritious foods as a back up in case the child doesn’t eat in the cafeteria. Avoid greasy, sweet, and sticky foods.

Many children love:
• Carrots with ranch dressing
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
• Cereal
• Apple slices
• Raisins
• Crackers with cheese, turkey or ham

Always choose fruits and protein over sweets, and vegetables over junk food. Schools often offer ice cream
and chocolate cake and give the child the freedom to choose what he or she wants as long as the child has enough money to purchase it. You could write a note to the teacher listing what you don’t want your child to eat. Also, schools typically publish a weekly or monthly menu calendar. Keep up with these menu offerings and make suggestions to your child each morning before school.