Good nutrition begins at home. Ensuring your child has an appropriate nutritious breakfast, lunch and dinner is up to you. Help kids make healthy choices. Eating well is important for their brain development, growth, and behavior.
• Feeling Good Project
• Help with Reading Food Labels
• Food Safety Information
• MyPyramid.gov
• Interactive Menu Planner
• Sample Menus
• Healthy Ethnic Meal Planning
• Lunch Box Ideas
• USDA Food and Nutrition Information Center
• HealthierUS.gov
• Daily Baby Nutrition Needs
• Daily Toddler Nutrition Needs
• Eating Together: A Four-Week Program to Make Dinner a Daily Habit in Your Home
Childhood Obesity
Because of the current overweight epidemic in children and teens, for the first time in history, the current generation of kids is not expected to live as long as their parents. Read more about what you can do to help your children avoid this epidemic.
Just for Kids!
BAM!
Designed for kids 9–13 years old, BAM! Body and Mind gives them the information they need to make healthy lifestyle choices.
Kid's World Nutrition Information: Understanding Food Labels
In order to plan a healthy diet, we must know how to read a food label. Food labels show us if a food has a little or a lot of certain nutrients. Look on the side of a product to find the Nutrition Facts title. Read more...
Local Farmers Markets
Visit the local farmers markets to get seasonal fresh fruit and veggies or get some fresh bread, cheeses or other specialties.
Get the kids involved! Give them a few dollars and let them buy whatever produce they want and will eat. There are always free samples at most of the market booths so encourage the kids to try something new. Have your kids figure out which food group each item is in and how much they need to eat in one day. For a complete listing of all local farmers markets, visit our Food page.
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Vegetarianism
As vegetarianism becomes more prevalent and popular, many parents may wonder if kids can safely follow a vegetarian diet and still get all the nutrients necessary for growing up healthy and strong. Avoiding meat may sound like a bad idea, but most dietary and medical experts agree that a well-planned vegetarian diet can actually be a very healthy way to eat. Read more...