Caring for your physical health through proper diet and nutrition

Whether your meal preparation is for yourself or your family, focus on making smart, healthy meals. Tips for success include:

• Make an effort to have more home-cooked meals. This can help encourage healthy eating. Also, it promotes more family time.
• Let your kids help plan what to eat. Kids love to help make meals and snacks.
• Keep healthy snacks on hand to help kids make good choices. Have more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Have fewer chips and sweets.
• Teach kids to eat when they’re hungry, not when they’re bored, sad, or angry. Respect their ability to know when they feel full.
• Breakfast helps jump start the day. It provides fuel for an active lifestyle and gives you and your child the energy to think faster and more clearly.
• Play “Put the Fork Down” at meals. Put your forks down between bites and take turns sharing your day.
• Balance. Balance what you eat to meet your need for nutrition and enjoyment.
• Variety. Enjoy all foods from important food groups (fruits, vegetables, lean sources of protein, low-fat dairy, and whole grains).
• Moderation. Focus on feeling comfortable instead of being too full after you eat. Use moderation when choosing less nutritious foods.