Pencils? Yes
Notebooks? Yes
Healthy foods for a strong
school year?

Back-to-school time is the perfect time to check in on your family’s good nutrition. Let’s face it; many things slide in the summertime including good eating habits. Maybe a visit to the beach took you and your family straight to boardwalk fries and funnel cakes or maybe you visited the neighborhood ice cream truck with regularity this summer. It’s time to refocus on healthy eating that will carry you and your family through to a successful school year. Healthy eating is good for physical health, academic performance, mental health, athletic performance, social interactions, and healthy habits.

It’s time to go through your pantry and refrigerator and restock them with nutrient-rich foods fit for growing bodies and minds. Choose:

Protein such as lean meats and fish, eggs, beans, peas, soy products, nuts and seeds

Fruits, fresh, canned, frozen, or dried, but look for canned fruits packed in their own juice so it’s low in sugar, and remember that ¼ cup of dried fruit counts as one serving.

Vegetables, fresh, canned, frozen or dried, and look for lower sodium vegetables when choosing canned or frozen varieties.

Whole grains, including whole wheat bread or pasta, oatmeal, popcorn, quinoa, brown or wild rice.

Dairy that is low fat or fat-free such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, or even fortified soy
beverages.

Check nutrition labels to limit added sugar, saturated fats, and salt.