Proper nutrition is critical for children’s growth and physical well-being. According to studies, it also helps students achieve their intellectual potential. One approach to ensure that school-aged children get the nourishment they need to focus and excel in school is to eat fresh, reliable greenhouse grown fruits and vegetables as part of their daily diet.
Access to consistent and sufficient nutrition is integral to the proper development of young children. Not only does eating well make them physically healthier, but it also promotes cognitive development, which contributes to better outcomes in the classroom. Studies by Nutrition International have shown that good nutrition can help children reach their educational potential. Having fresh, reliable greenhouse grown fruits & vegetables is just one way to ensure that school-aged children get the adequate nutrition that they need to properly concentrate and excel at school.
Sometimes the simplest way to connect with kids and get them excited about eating a well-balanced diet is by providing awesome snacks! Pure Flavor® has a full lineup of snacking items that kids love – making it easier to get them excited about eating healthy foods.
Small yet super crunchy Uno Bites™ Nano Cucumbers are not only full of essential nutrients but they are also great to keep kids hydrated throughout their day. Enjoy them by the handful from morning to night – on their own or with your favorite dips. High in both Vitamin C and Vitamin A, Juno® Bites Red Grape Tomatoes help to protect against infections by keeping the immune system healthy. They are loved by both kids and parents alike.
Making sure that kids have access to nutritious snacks gives them a head-start on a healthy active lifestyle. It’s important that parents, teachers, and school administration work together to ensure that children eat healthier.
WHO CAN HELP CHILDREN EAT HEALTHIER –
Parents –
As the children’s first teachers, parents are immensely responsible for a child’s nutrition, even while they’re in school. Among the various factors that could affect children’s eating habits, studies found that parental dietary patterns affect children the most. It’s because parents are the ones who shape the home food environment and influence how a child thinks about food.
To model healthy eating, parents or guardians should take the time to prepare healthy meals & snacks for themselves and their children. We know that time can be tight, so we’ve put together some great ideas like Sheet Pan Gnocchi or Chili Stuffed Peppers that are easy to prepare during busy weeknights and are full of fresh vegetables!
Easy-to-make plant-based snacks are great ways that parents can prepare for their children as school lunches or after-school treats. Because they are quick but healthy, parents ensure that they’re providing good nutrition and modeling healthy eating habits that children can emulate.
School Administrators –
School administrators are equally liable for the health and nutrition of young children. Because students spend most of their time in school, what they learn and see from teachers is crucial in developing healthy eating habits among children. In a study on the promotion of healthy eating in primary schools, the survey confirmed that food and nutrition education programs and teacher role modeling in primary schools are influential in the development and practice of healthy dietary behaviors of students. Therefore, teachers and parents believe that schools need to actively support health-related programs and invest in educating students and members about the importance of health because they can significantly influence student perceptions of healthy eating habits.
Having easy-to-grab snack items like Mini Munchies® Snack Packs make it easy for schools to provide healthy options in their cafeterias or through snack programs.
School Nurses –
Apart from providing accessible health services in classrooms, school nurses have a role in promoting health policies and practices in school, such as developing healthy eating environments. This way, school nurses can improve the quality of care for children. School nurses analyze and understand children’s individual needs and wants while ensuring that it’s aligned with their daily nutritional needs. It will guarantee that children can enjoy their meals and receive the nutrition they need to perform adequately in school.
Moreover, school nurses engage in activities that support the well-being of students, such as combating childhood obesity and encouraging the instruction of health education to enlighten students on why they need to take care of their health at an early age. Resources that illustrate healthy activities for students that can be provided in the classroom and reinforced at home are a great way to have parents and students connect on creating a healthy, active lifestyle.
Government & Policymakers –
Lastly, government and policymakers are important in ensuring that schools, especially public schools, have the budget to support health-related programs for young children. According to The National Library of Medicine, when asked who they think is responsible for keeping children healthy, respondents shared that the government plays a critical role in children’s health and health education. If schools are not well funded by the government, schools cannot financially support relevant health-related programs and activities. For instance, since the healthiness of a cafeteria’s food is mostly dependent on the income level of the school district, schools with fewer financial resources cannot sufficiently serve nutritious food in cafeterias. In addition, the lack of funds means schools cannot train or hire more teachers that can teach health education to children.
IT STARTS IN SCHOOL –
The Pure Flavor® Adopt-A-School program was created to support health initiatives led by schools across North America by providing fresh and nutritious snacks of greenhouse grown tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers on a regular basis. By sharing a variety of fresh vegetables with schools across North America, it helps to introduce kids of all ages to new flavor experiences and ensure they learn about healthy, balanced diets at the same time. It is important for kids to see the influential people around them take the lead in ensuring that healthy meals and snacks are a part of their days. The vitamins and nutrients that are found in fresh greenhouse grown fruits and vegetables can ensure that students’ minds and bodies are functioning at their fullest potential.
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