Helpful Online Resources
• Stanford Children’s Health: www.stanford
childrens.org/en/service/nutrition-services
• American Academy of Pediatrics: www.healthy
children.org/english/healthy-living/nutrition/pages/
default.aspx
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:
www.eatright.org
August/September 2018 61
MARK KOCINA; OPPOSITE FROM TOP: COURTESY OF DELPHI ACADEMY; COURTESY OF MERRYHILL SCHOOL
Top 3 Positive Trends
1 Students take command: Kids feel empowered
by student-led classroom projects, increased
lunchroom choices and participation in global
or 2 local community service activities related to food. Schools are on board: Science, English, math
and social studies class lessons connect to
cuisine, school gardens expand and physical
fitness instruction includes nutrition education. 3 Parents play a dynamic role: From home
gardens to modeling healthy eating to advocating
alongside their children for healthier lunch
menus, invested parents know that what a child learns
at home is essential. Kudos to parents: lunch brought
from home trend to more home-cooked entrees and
less processed or pre-packaged foods.
Top 3 Warnings
1 Kids rely on social media: Misinformation
is abundant, so children benefit from guidance
and encouragement to carefully filter
and analyze nutrition information. 2 Fast food and peer pressure continue to
rule: Offering healthy versions of favored
foods like pizza or sweet desserts is vital as
children begin to learn about obesity, disordered
eating, the impact of food on mental health and
3 other conditions related to diet and nutrition. Easy or cost-efficient versus healthy: The
balance for school lunch program providers
is tricky. Consider alternating home-cooked
lunches with lunches purchased at school for a
combination of healthy eating and convenience.
Safety knives
and veggies
are a recipe
for kid-friendly
kitchen
training at The
Harker School.
