Food!

100 Days of Junk?

Recently my son's class celebrated the 100th day of school. (Don’t ask me why this is suddenly something to celebrate, but boy was he excited.) The kids all did 100-related projects—mine made a poster with 100 ninjas—and in preparation for the day's festivities the first-grade teachers sent home a...

Raise Your Voice for Healthy Food in Schools

These days there is a lot of talk about why we should have healthier food in schools –from childhood obesity prevention to positive nutrition messaging to the connection between healthy diet and academic performance. These are all great reasons, but for me it really boils down to that offering...

5 Ways to Improve School Snacks

Research shows that 40 percent of students buy and eat snack foods at school in a typical day. I can see this daily in my classroom. Many parents are too busy to pack snacks, especially healthy ones. Some of my students are on their own to pack lunches and snacks, and the result can be unhealthy,...

Even before they are school aged, toddlers are fed junk food at day care

By trade, I am a registered dietitian. So, I know a lot more than the average mom about what to eat and what not to eat. In fact, my mother is also a registered dietitian, so the basics of a healthy diet were part of everyday life for me growing up. As a dietitian, I know the importance of healthy...