Health for Body Mind and Soul

A study by the University of Michigan recently looked at the impact of school lunches on the overall health and eating patterns of students.

For this study, questionnaires were completed by nearly 1300 sixth grade students at various Michigan public schools over the course of three years.  The results of the study indicated children who ate primarily school lunches were more likely to be overweight and have poorer overall eating habits.  This is compared to children who primarily ate lunches from home.

In particular, students who ate school lunches were more likely to consume fatty meats and sugary drinks.  They were also less likely to eat healthy levels of fruits and vegetables.  The combination of these two factors has been shown to lead to obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

“This study confirms the current and escalating national concern with children’s health, and underscores the need to educate children about how to make healthy eating and lifestyle choices early on,” says Elizabeth Jackson, M.D., MPH.

Read about the original study here.

This study indicates a need for early education in students about healthy eating habits.  Much of this starts at home. Starting healthy eating habits in children sounds like a big task, but implementing some simple steps may help to make the transition much easier.

Here are some ways to begin to develop healthy eating habits for kids:

• Involve them in food choices.  Help them to understand the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet.
• Encourage them to eat slowly.  Slower eaters tend to eat less and realize they are full faster.
• Lead by example.  Children will often pick up on eating habits from parents.
• Limit sodas and sugary drinks with empty calories.

Involving your kids from an early stage in healthy eating, and controlling what they eat at school, can help reduce their overall risk of obesity later in life.