Back To School: Nutrition

It’s that time of year again to dust off the alarm clock, hunt down those school supplies and reinstate routines. We at Putnam Hospital Center know the excitement -- and anxieties -- that come with going back to school. To help parents, hospital staff offer these tips to ensure your children have a successful 2014-2015 school year.

Health Quest

Content Partner: Health Quest

Indrani Dhar, the supervisor of clinical nutrition, says, “Good healthy habits and physical activity are the magic pills everyone is looking for and they are right under our noses, especially this time of year. Farmers markets, local farms and grocery stores have an abundance of produce and locally made specialty products without chemicals or additives. It is very important to eat as little processed packaged foods as possible.”

Tips on eating:

Make it a habit and a priority to eat healthy, whole foods.
Plan meals, shop, cook and eat with your children.
Prepare school lunches the night before.
Combine a protein, carbohydrate and healthy fat with every meal and snack.
Model healthy eating habits.
Remember the foundation for healthy eating habits starts early in life.

Lunch and snack ideas for home and school:

Pita sandwiches, wraps, salads and vegetable pizza.
Grilled chicken, chili, baked potato and sweet potato.
Guacamole, salsa and hummus with pita chips and raw vegetables and yogurt dip.
Fresh fruit and cheese, Greek yogurt and fresh berries, assorted nuts and trail mix.