10 Steps for Parents

Do you know if your kids are eating

healthy school meals? The only real

way to be sure is to get involved.

Show you care. Show the school that

what your kids eat matters a lot.

Because it does. Here's a checklist of

what you can do to get results:

Do lunch with the kids.

Eat breakfast or lunch at school

with your kids. See what the meals

are like. Notice the atmosphere. If

you don't like what you see, do

something.

Talk out of school.

Make your opinions heard. Talk to

other parents. Work with your PTA

and school board to support

healthy school meals.

Discuss your principles.

Go to the principal. Discuss the

importance of good nutrition and

physical activity. Suggest programs. Ask for cooperation. Follow

through.

Know what's for lunch.

Get a weekly menu of school meals.

Ask for the nutrition facts so you

can be sure the menu meets the

U.S. Government Dietary Guidelines

for Americans. Keep it magnetized

to your refrigerator. Discuss all the

healthy choices with your kids.

Team up with foodservice staff.

Visit the school cafeteria. Get to

know the staff. Let them know you

value their services ... and appreciate good daily nutrition for your

child.

Plant a seed.

Show your kids and their friends

where healthy food comes from.

Help your school start an edible

landscape with a garden of goodies

like fruits, vegetables and herbs.

Throw a tasting party.

Volunteer to organize a classroom

tasting party to introduce and

encourage nutritious new foods the

kids may never have tried.

Set up a group.

Get involved. Form a parent advisory committee for school meals.

Recruit enthusiastic "can-do" people

to work with you.

Serve your kids food for thought.

Make sure kids appreciate how

healthy breakfasts and lunches

serve their minds as well as their

bodies.

Listen.

If you listen to what your kids are

learning at school about good nutrition, you can help them all put their

knowledge to work at home, too.

10 Steps for Parents

Healthy Eating at School

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Good nutrition begins at home. It

should continue at school. The Food

Guide Pyramid is based on the official

U.S. Government guidelines for

healthy eating. It's designed so kids

and adults can learn and remember

how to eat right every day.

So study it ▲ Practice it

Show it to your kids ▲ Tack it up

Talk it up ▲ Give examples

Make it fun ▲ Your kids will eat it up

And they'll grow up knowing how to

choose foods that promise healthier,

happier lives.

Teaching Kids How to Eat

Right at Home and at School

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Food Guide Pyramid

A Guide to Daily Food Choices

Fats, Oils, & Sweets

Eat Less

Milk Group

2–3 Servings

Meat Group

2-3 Servings

Vegetable

Group

3–5 Servings

Fruit Group

2-4 Servings

Bread Group

6–11

Servings

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Children can have fun and improve

their health by being physically active

every day. Children should aim to

get at least 60 minutes of moderate

physical activity on most days.

Parents can help:

Create safe places.

Watch over children’s activities.

Set a good example. 

Be active with your children.

Promote physical activity.

Encourage children to be physically

active at home, at school, and with

friends. 

Limit sitting-around time.

Alternate time spent sitting with

time spent moving.

Establish a routine.

Set aside time each day as activity

time.

Coach a team.

Encourage children to participate in

neighborhood sports.

Set up a home gym. 

Get children involved in creating a

gym using household items.

Canned foods make good weights.

Try aerobic activities. 

Check children’s heart rates before,

during and after activities to see

how hard they are working.

Throw an activity party. 

Make your child’s birthday party

activity-centered.

Work with your school.

Be sure your school offers physical

activity time for all students.

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What is the right 

level of activity?

If you can talk without being

breathless, you’re okay. If

you can sing, you’re not

moving enough.

Sitting Around

Stretching &

Building Up Muscles

Making Your Heart

Work Harder

Moving

Whenever

You Can

LESS

ENOUGH

MORE

PLENTY

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10 Steps for Parents 10 Steps for Parents

▲ ▲ Make Physical Activity Easy ▲ ▲ ▲

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Food and Nutrition Service 

United States Department of Agriculture

January 2002

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. www.fns.usda.gov/tn