Nutrition for Parents
Did you know...this generation of young people is the first that is forecast to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents? 1 in 3 or 4 children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes at some point in their lifetime. The prevalence of overweight kids among 6 to 11 year olds has doubled in the past 20 years and tripled for teens.
What are we doing about it? Our district participates in the National School Lunch Program, following strict national and state nutrition guidelines, and provides nutritious lunches that contain one-third of the recommended dietary allowance of nutrients. Our district adheres to the recommended USDA dietary guidelines from MyPlate. This new Food Guide focuses on nutrition and fitness, because the two go hand in hand. It is designed to help kids and parents to not only understand the guidelines but to also provide practical advice on how to provide healthy and balanced diet. Recommendations are tailored for kids based on age, gender, and exercise habits.
Click the link to view the School Meal Nutrition Standards.
Furtermore, our district has also developed a comprehensive school wellness policy and upholds the USDA's Federally Mandated Nutritional Value requirements, which defines the nutrition guidelines for school meals.
For parents, Noblesville Schools Nutrition & Food Services offers a convenient method of providing a nutritionally balanced lunch at the lowest possible price. For schools, the nutrition program enhances children's learning abilities by contributing to their physical and mental well being. Studies have shown that children whose nutritional needs are met have fewer attendance and discipline problems and are more attentive in class.
Be a role model. Take an active role in encouraging your kids eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Encourage your kids to get at least 60 minutes of moderate exercise each day (30 minutes for adults). Family meals are a great time for parents to connect and share the details of the day. Plus, kids who eat regularly with their families are less likely to snack on unhealthful foods. Try to eat meals together as a family at least 3 times per week.
Why Do School Meals Matter?
Good nutrition is critical to success in the classroom and beyond. But unfortunately, many children are not getting the nutrients they need. Most kids get too much sugar, sodium, and saturated fat — and not enough fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. As a result, diet-related diseases like diabetes and obesity are on the rise. For children to grow and reach their full potential, it is critical that they have access to nutritious foods and develop lifelong healthy dietary habits. USDA school meal programs reach around 30 million children each school day from all communities and backgrounds across the country. Ensuring these meals are highly nutritious is one of America’s best opportunities to improve child health.
Research shows that kids get their healthiest meals of the day from school. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our many school meal partners, school nutrition has come a long way. For example, the Healthy Eating Index score is a measure of how closely a meal meets the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The average score of school lunches was found to be significantly higher than the average score of lunches from home or other places.
