Healthy eating helps children grow, develop and do well in school. It prevents childhood and adolescent problems such as obesity and iron-deficiency anemia. It also lowers the risk of future chronic disease such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, and it reduces potential health-care costs.

Follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans as recommended by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Aim for fitness

• Try to maintain a healthy weight.
• Be physically active each day.

Build a healthy base

• Let the food pyramid guide your choices.
• Choose a variety of grains daily, especially whole grains.
• Select a variety of fruits and vegetables daily.
• Keep food safe to eat.

Choose sensibly

• Choose a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat.
• Opt for beverages and foods to moderate your intake of sugars.
• Select and prepare foods with less salt.

Federal funding

Nine of our elementary schools are participating in a fresh fruit and vegetable program during the 2009-2010 school year. Read more ...