With so much to consider as you prepare to send your kids back to school, it’s not uncommon to overlook one very important element – nutrition. Amongst all of the school shopping and prepping, we encourage you to make your family’s health a priority at this important time of year!
Breakfast; the Most Important Meal of the Day
We have all heard the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you’re a skeptic of this common belief, think again. According to Johns Hopkins, breakfast can help us maintain a healthy body weight and the energy ingested at breakfast can lead to improved concentration for students in the classroom. Be sure and encourage your little scholars to sit down and enjoy a square breakfast before heading out the door.
Pack Healthy Lunches
The school lunch debate has been a hot topic for many years. Most parents and administrators agree that there is plenty of room for improvement when it comes to nutrition in school lunches. The best way to protect your little ones from excess sugars, preservatives and additives is to pack healthy lunches. By regulating their lunch diet you can ensure that your children are meeting their daily recommended nutrition intake. Not sure exactly what that includes? Check out these dietary recommendations from the American Heart Association.
As you pack those lunches, be sure and include bright colored fruits and veggies as well as healthy fats and proteins to keep your students fueled for the rest of the school day. Here are a few fun lunch ideas your kids are sure to love:
Easy Lunch Box Ideas: Back to School
40 Days of Gluten Free School Lunches
Nutritious Snacks
After school, your kids are likely to run straight for the pantry for a snack. Be sure to have healthy snack options on hand. Better yet, toss out the sugary snacks to ensure they don’t get distracted by processed, unhealthy snack alternatives.
The Family Who Dines Together…
There are so many benefits to eating together as a family. Here are just a few facts you might find interesting:
– Kids who eat regular family meals during their teens are more likely to eat healthy and less likely to be obese when they live on their own as adults.*
– Teens who regularly eat with their families are more likely to have a positive outlook on their future.*
– Adolescents who eat with their families report less stress and better relationships with their parents.*
– Kindergartners who watch TV during dinner are more likely to be overweight by the time they reach the third grade*
Gluten Free Pizza Phoenix
Make nightly meals together a priority. If you don’t already, make the change this school year and reap the benefits of dining together as a family. While you’re at it, why not include Picazzo’s in your weekly routine? Come visits us once a week as a family and enjoy our salads, entrees and gluten free pizzas together. Discover why we are known for our gluten free pizza in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, Tempe and Flagstaff. We even sell our gluten free pizza dough in our Tempe store. Stop in and grab some for a fun night of making gluten free pizza as a family!
Are you interested in receiving more health tips throughout the school year? Follow our blog! Learn how to keep your family fit and healthy year round. While you’re here, be sure and check out these recent popular posts:
Your Guide to Gluten Free Dining; Even on Vacation
Client Testimonial: Eating Gluten Free in Tempe
*https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/12/the-most-important-thing-you-can-do-with-your-kids-eat-dinner-with-them/