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For Parents Archives
Nutrition: What's it got to do with education?
Today, feeding children is based on concerns about
heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and high blood
pressure. There is reason to be concerned. More than
20 percent of American children are overweight with
a good chance that 50 to 70 percent of them will
remain overweight as adults. Research shows that
children develop eating habits similar to those of
their parents so it is important for parents to set
good examples of healthful eating.
In a news release dated April 2006, Howard Taras,
M.D., Acting Chief of Community Pediatrics at the
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of
Medicine reported that a healthy breakfast is an
effective means to improve academic performance and
cognitive functioning among
undernourished kids. But, are American kids
undernourished? If there diet consists largely of
fat and sugar, the answer is yes.
Let's review some nutritional basics: Children
should consume about 2200 calories a day. These
calories should be provided from 9 servings from the
bread group, 4 from the vegetable group, 3 from the
fruit group, 2-3 from
the milk group and 2 (total of 6 ounces) from the
meat group.
If you send your child off with a healthy breakfast
and make sure his or her lunch is appealing and
healthy (so it will be eaten), you are 66% of the
way there! Visit
Family Fun for healthy, fun food ideas for your
kids.
Here are some ideas for healthy breakfasts and
lunches:
For breakfast, be sure to have a blender, fresh or
frozen fruit, fruit juice, whole grain cereal and
breads and eggs on hand. It's quick and easy to
simply blend half a banana, a half cup of any frozen
or fresh berries, and one cup of milk. Non-sugary
cereal topped with fruit is a great breakfast, as is
any whole grain muffin or bagel. It only takes 3
minutes to scramble an egg, add crumbled pre-cooked
bacon and a tablespoon of shredded
cheese and roll up in a tortilla. Healthy, instant
breakfast to go!
Tortillas make a versatile sandwich option. Spread
the bottom with cream cheese, soft herbed cheese or
refried beans. Top with shredded vegetables and
thinly sliced meat and roll. Salsa is an nutritious
addition to lunch, even when paired with low fat
pita or tortilla chips. Peanut butter is a favorite
paired with peanut butter, apples, celery, bananas
or even pickles!
Make an apple pie pita by seasoning cubed apples
with cinnamon, sugar and lemon juice and stuffing
them into a warm, buttered pita. Wrap in foil.
If your child's idea of a great lunch is those
pre-portioned lunch-able snacks, make your own.
Cube cheese, lunch meat, add crackers, colorful
pepper strips and serve in a reusable plastic
sectioned container. Add a small size
yogurt with raisins or granola to sprinkle on top
and you've created your own hit lunch.
At home, try brainstorming a rough list of lunch
ingredients that you both agree on, and don't forget
to include a few fun items that your kids can help
prepare. After all, if your kids have a little time
invested in their lunches, they may be less likely to
reject them.
Once in a while, be sure to pack a lunch-box
surprise, such as a cupcake with a special message
on an important day. It's a simple gesture that will
let your kids know your thoughts are with them even
when they are at school.
Bullying:
What you can do for your child
The facts:
- Studies show that between 15-25% of U.S.
students are bullied with some frequency
("sometimes or more often") while 15-20% report
that they bully others with some frequency.
(Melton et al, 1998; Nansel et al, 2001)
- Boys are more likely than girls to bully
others
- Girls frequently report being bullied by both
boys and girls, but boys are most often bullied
only by other boys
What are the consequences of bullying?
- Children and youth who are bullied are more
likely than other children to be depressed,
lonely, anxious, have low self-esteem, feel
unwell, and think about suicide.
Recognize the signs:
- Your child may be being bullied if he or she:
a. comes home with torn, damaged or
missing pieces of clothing, books or other
belongings
b. has few, if any friendsews
c. seems afraid of going to school, walking to
and from school, riding the school bus or taking
part in organized activities with peers such as
clubs or athletics).
d. takes a long, illogical route when walking to
or from school
e. has lost interest in school work or suddenly
begins to do poorly in school
f. appears sad, moody, teary, or depressed when he
or she comes home
g. complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches
or other physical ailments
h. has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
i. experiences a loss of appetite or appears
anxious and suffers from low self-esteem.
Empowering your child to cope:
- Talk to your child about bullying. Tell him
or her that if they are being bullied they can use
these tactics:
a. Talk to an adult, parent,
teacher or principal. This is not tattling.
b. Don't fight back and don't show anger or fear.
c. Calmly tell the bully to stop or to go away.
d. If humor comes easily to your child, let him
make a joke out of it.
e. Try to avoid situations where the bullying
happens (don't go in the bathroom alone, sit near
the front of the bus, sit with a groups of friends
at lunch, don't bring expensive things to school,
take a different hallway to class, walk with
friends or ask a teacher).
Above all, arm yourself and your child with
information, keep open channels of communication and
enlist the help of the schoolteachers and
professionals. Visit this site for more
information:
Stop Bullying Now.
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