Fit School Health Tip #53  Fit School, Inc. Website

Here is this week's tip: March is National Nutrition Month 10 Simple Steps to Get your Family Nutritionally Fit Start your family's day with a healthy breakfast Have washed fresh fruits on the table or countertop every day Have small bottles of water on a shelf in refrigerator Pack healthy lunches for the entire family Choose water and fat-free milk as your beverages Serve a plate with an arrangement of cut-up fruits with toothpicks for a snack or an appetizer (Presentation does make a difference!) Before dinner, have a variety of fresh vegetables (red and green pepper strips, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, and baby carrots) with low-fat ranch dip as an appetizer Learn how to read food labels and teach your children how to do this. Discuss the nutrients and ingredients in the foods you eat.  Check out MyPyramid from the US Department of Agriculture: www.mypyramid.gov Limit eating out to 1 time per week.  How do you make food taste REALLY GOOD?  Add salt, fat, and sugar!  At home you have control over this. Talk about the benefits of eating healthy foods that you don't particularly like.  For example, "You know, I don't really like spinach, but I eat it because I know it has calcium and magnesium which helps keep me healthy." For more ways to become a fit family, visit www.TheFitSchool.com