Washington Health System

SCHOOL- YEAR SCHOOL- YEAR KIDS NEED MORE THAN SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND PROPER AT TIRE TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR. Essentials PATRICIA BORNHORST, DO, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE WHS SPORTS MEDICINE PROGRAM SCHOOL- YEAR Their minds are hard at work learning new things, and their bodies are working hard, too, at recess, in gym class and during fun aer-school activities. Kids are busy being kids, so they need parents and caregivers to help make sure they're on the right track to good health. PACKING A NUTRITIONAL PUNCH Many parents have probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Yet breakfast is the meal most oen skipped, says Jacqueline Ely, RDN, LDN, CLT, Registered Dietitian with Washington Health System's Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center. "Imagine a car running on empty," Ely says. "It won't run. Similarly, skipping breakfast forces your body to function on very little fuel. Breakfast—and good nutrition in general—is crucial for kids. ey need nutritious foods not only for fuel, but for their developing brains and bodies." To help your child feel and perform at his or her best while at school, Ely suggests keeping the following handy tips in mind when prepping breakfast and lunches for your young ones: » Avoid processed foods that list sugar as one of the rst ingredients, as well as those containing partially hydrogenated oils. » Choose unprocessed or minimally processed foods. » Opt for foods containing naturally occurring sugars, such as fruit, instead of articial sweeteners. » Prepare meals consisting of at least three of the ve primary food groups (dairy, grains, fruits, protein and vegetables). "Eating the right foods with adequate calories, fats, proteins and carbs as well as eating on a regular basis—no more than every ve hours—will help kids maintain healthy energy levels and an ability to focus and concentrate during the school day and aer-school activities," Ely says. connections | F A L L 2016 4 whs.org

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