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Back-To-School Nutrition Tips for Back-To-School Success |
SourceTexas Children's Hospital ForumsHealth, Safety, Nutrition and KidsRelated ArticlesNew Harvard Research Shows School Breakfast Program May Improve Children's Behavior and PerformanceOff to School with Food Allergies Information and news releases furnished by the members of PR Newswire, who are responsible for their fact and content. |
HOUSTON, Aug. 3, 1998 -- As the dog days of summer quickly pass, children will find themselves headed back to the classrooms for reading, writing and arithmetic. Parents can help their children be at their best by providing the proper nutrition essential for making it through the day. Pediatrician Sheryl Hausinger, M.D., an associate of Texas Children's Pediatric Associates (TCPA), offers parents back-to-school tips on nutrition for back-to-school success. Often dubbed the most important meal of the day, parents can jump start their children's day with a well-balanced breakfast, including fruit juice, toast, cereal or eggs. "Make sure your children start their day with a well-balanced breakfast, which provides them with energy to make it through the day," said Dr. Sheryl Hausinger of Friendswood. "A simple, yet nutritious breakfast can be made quickly for families on-the-go, including fruit, yogurt or a bowl of cereal." The most challenging meal for parents to prepare is lunch. When children have access to snack bars and vending machines, parents must include excitement and variety in prepacked lunches that children will eat when unsupervised. Lunch should contain food from all five essential food groups: breads, fruits, vegetables, protein and dairy products. Including some variety in the menu can prevent children from getting bored with their lunch and will prevent them from straying to the vending machine or snack bar. Dr. Hausinger suggests mixing and matching breads to create a colorful sandwich and in place of potato chips try substituting with crackers, popcorn or pretzels. Also, alternate sandwiches with leftovers, offer dips or spreads to make fruits and vegetables more interesting and satisfy their sweet tooth with graham crackers or fruit rather than candy and cookies. If your child will not drink milk, add calcium to their diet with string and cottage cheeses or yogurt. Don't forget to add a little sunshine to your child's day by including a short note in their lunch bag every so often. Parents can also encourage their children to make healthy eating choices by including them in menu planning and offering them choices. TCPA is a non-profit health corporation providing quality pediatric health care through a network of more than 90 physicians in more than 40 locations throughout Houston. Created in 1994, TCPA is affiliated with Texas Children's Hospital. Texas Children's Hospital in Houston is a 456-licensed bed, non-profit pediatric specialty hospital, the largest children's hospital in the United States. Founded in 1954, Texas Children's has trained nearly 80 percent of all Texas pediatricians as the primary pediatric teaching and research hospital for Baylor College of Medicine, one of the top 20 U.S. medical schools in research funding. Within its spectrum of more than 40 pediatric specialties and subspecialties, Texas Children's is known worldwide for developing breakthrough treatments in all areas of children's health care, including childhood cancer, cardiology, neonatology, asthma, diabetes and gene therapy. More than 3,300 physicians, medical and professional personnel care for patients and their families at Texas Children's Hospital, located in the heart of Houston's world-renowned Texas Medical Center. CONTACT: Sara Israwi of Texas Children's Hospital, 713-770-2174 |
