A healthy diet helps children grow and learn

Good nutrition is essential to good health! A healthy diet helps children grown and learn. It also helps prevent obesity and weight-related diseases such as diabetes, as well as many chronic conditions that have been linked to poor diet including asthma and allergies. The following guidelines will help you give your children a nutritious diet:

• Encourage your child to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables – 5 servings/day
• Choose healthy sources of protein – seafood, lean meat, poultry, eggs, beans, peas, soy product, nuts
• Serve whole-grain breads and cereals because they are high in fiber – whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice
• Serve fat-free and low-fat dairy foods
• Broil, grill or steam foods instead of frying them
• Limit fast food and junk food
• Offer water and milk instead of sugary fruit drinks and sodas

Regular physical activity goes hand in hand with a nutritious diet, so stay active as a family and incorporate exercise into your daily lives!