Did you know that eating healthy can set students up for academic success? According to Get Healthy San Mateo County, students who eat a healthy breakfast are better prepared to learn. In many children’s centers, students will eat their breakfast or a morning snack at school. Healthy eating habits begin early, so it is so important that the food we serve children is delicious and nutritious!
A simple way to ensure that we are serving fresh, healthy food is by offering fruits and veggies that are in season. Seasonal produce is tastier and more nutritious than fruits and vegetables that are out of season. Visit SF Environment to find a list of seasonal produce by month..here are the seasonal vegetables they list for the month of May:
Click here to download this sheet.
Do you have some picky eaters who are less interested in trying new fruits and veggies? View our list below for a few ideas about how to make children more excited about trying new produce.
Make a smoothie: Carrots and greens can be easily added into a smoothie with yogurt and seasonal fruits to make a sweet and tasty snack!
Make healthy muffins: Have you ever tried baking fruits and veggies into healthy muffins? Muffins are a great way to sneak some healthy produce into a simple, easy-to-grab snack. Children might even enjoy helping to bake them! Visit My Bored Toddler’s website for a recipe that is kid-friendly and easy to make with little ones.
Add to a familiar food: If you have children that want to stick to perennial favorites like mac’n’cheese or pizza, try adding some healthy veggies to foods they already enjoy. Peas, broccoli, and cauliflower are easy to sneak into pasta or pizza dishes. Seeing new veggies in a familiar food might make children more likely to give it a try.
Make food fun to eat: Fruits and vegetables can be cut into different shapes for a fun snack time experience. The Decorated Cookie website shares fun ideas for silly food faces and fruit pops.
A quick and simple note home lets parents know their child is eating healthy food, and also gives children an opportunity to practice writing skills and engage in conversation about colors, shapes, and types of food.
Older children in preschool and pre-k can use the paper below to tell parents about the healthy foods they ate that day. Younger children who are not yet able to write can draw a picture of what they ate.
