ormoreservings offruitsandvegetables

• CreateaStudentNutritionActionCommitteeorgivestudentschancestoparticipateinadvocacy-basedeffortstoimprovetheirschoolorcommunitynutritionenvironment.

• Inthecafeteria,placethenutrient-denseentréesaheadofotherentrées,createaconveniencelineforhealthieritems,promptstudentstotakeapieceoffruit,anddisplaywholefruitwithcontrastingcolorsinattractivebowls.

• Usenutritionlessonstomeetstandardsincoresubjectslikemath,science,andhealth– trackdailyservings,setgoals,growagarden,anddesignhealthysnacks!

Fruitsandvegetablescanprovideadolescentswithalotofnutrients,water,fiber,andphytochemicalsthathelppreventdiseasesandkeeptheirbodieshealthy.Therearemanyschool-basedprogramsdesignedtoincreasestudentfruitandvegetableconsumption– contacttheClearinghouseforMilitaryFamilyReadinessat1-877-382-9185toidentifyprogramstomeetyourneeds!

orfewerhoursofrecreationalscreentime++reviewguidelinesonparentingstrategiestoencouragequalityscreentime(AAP,2015)

• PromotenationalScreen-FreeWeek,usuallyinearlyMay,asaschoolevent.Seewww.screenfree.org fordetails.

• Helpeducateparentsabouthealthyscreentimehabits–likeremovingtelevisionsfrombedrooms,turningoffmediaduringmealtimes,andsettingandenforcinglimits.

• Helpadolescentsidentifyalternateactivitiestheyenjoy,likedrama,band,studentleadership,andcommunityservice.

Recreationalscreentimeisfreetimespentinfrontofscreens– liketelevisions,videogames,andtheInternet.Itispossibletogetenoughphysicalactivityandstillengageinanunhealthyamountofscreentime.

ormorehoursofphysicalactivity

• Examinethephysicaleducationcurriculumandmakeimprovementstoensurethatyouthspendasmuchtimeaspossiblebeingactiveandnotwaitinginlines.

• Replacefood-relatedfundraiserslikesellingcookiedoughwithactivefundraiserslikewalk-a-thons.

• Ifthereisalotofcompetitionforplacementonaschoolsportteam,considerestablishingintramuralorclubsportopportunitiessothatallinterestedstudentscanbeactive!

Activityisimportantforlotsofreasons:itgivesadolescentsopportunitiestomovetheirbodies,becomemorephysicallyfit,practiceproblemsolving,buildself-confidence,andengageinsocialinteractionsthatpromoteself-awarenessandempathy.

sweetenedBeverages

• Ensureeasyaccesstofreedrinkingwaterthatisdesirabletodrink.Checkthefountainsandcleanorreplacethemifnecessary.Consideraddinghydrationstationsandprovidingstudentswithreusablewaterbottlestofillatthestations.

• Makewaterthenormforquenchingthirst– leadbyexample,anddrinkwaterwhenyouarethirsty.

• Optnottosellsweetenedbeveragesonschoolgrounds.Or,makeunsweetenedbeveragesmorevisibleandconvenienttopurchasetonudgestudentstowardhealthieroptions.

Itisimportanttodrinkfluidstostayhealthy,butsweetenedbeveragesaddextrasugarandcaloriestothediet.Sweetenedbeveragesallowedforsaletomiddle/highschoolstudentsincludeflavorednonfatmilkandbeverageswithupto40caloriesper8ozor60caloriesper12oz.TheUSDAurgesschooldistrictsto“exercisecaution”whenselectingitemstoselltostudents.

ContacttheClearinghouseforMilitaryFamilyReadinessat1-877-382-9185orwww.militaryfamilies.psu.eduforhelpidentifyingschool-basedprogramstargetingnutrition,physicalactivity,andscreentime!

ThismaterialisbaseduponworksupportedbytheNationalInstituteofFoodandAgriculture,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,andtheOfficeofFamilyPolicy,ChildrenandYouth,U.S.DepartmentofDefenseunderAwardNo.2010-48709-21867

developedincollaborationwithTheClearinghouseforMilitaryFamilyReadinessatPennStateUniversity.5210HealthyChildrenisadaptedfromLet’sGo!www.letsgo.org.