Good Nutrition

Good nutrition leads to great academic performance

Your body needs healthy fuel to perform, to grow and to ward off illness and disease.

Good nutrition has a positive and direct impact on your ability to do well in school. When your nutritional needs are met, you have the cognitive energy to learn and achieve. You will be better prepared to learn, more likely to attend school, and are more apt to take advantage of learning opportunities.

Many children are flunking healthy eating

  • Only 2 percent of students are meeting all the recommendations of the USDA Dietary Guidelines; 16 percent do not meet any

  • Less than 15 percent of school children eat the recommended servings of fruit

  • Less than 20 percent eat the recommended servings of vegetables

  • About 25 percent eat the recommended servings of grains

  • Only 30 percent consume the recommended milk group servings

  • Only 19 percent of girls ages 9 to 19 meet the recommended intakes for calcium

  • Only 16 percent of school children meet the guidelines for saturated fat

The Consequences are Troubling

  • Childhood obesity is a national epidemic, likely to result in earlier onset and increased prevalence of disease

  • The percentage of young people who are overweight has more than doubled in the past 30 years

  • Unhealthy eating and physical inactivity are causes of obesity and chronic disease, resulting in at least 300,000 deaths each year

  • Poor nutrition associated with heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes, alone, now costs $71 billion a year

Healthy Recipe Ideas

We are committed to supporting our community in the areas of nutrition, fitness, and a healthy lifestyle! We hope you like the following recipes. They are healthy and packed with flavor for you and your family. Enjoy!

Eating the right amount of fruits and vegetables as part of a low fat, high fiber diet may lower your risk of serious problems like obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer. The amount of fruits and vegetables that is right for you depends on your age, gender, and physical activity level. Don't forget to be active, too!

Being physically active gives you more energy. It helps lower stress. And, it helps you keep a healthy body weight. To take care of your health and lower the risk of serious health problems, adults need at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every day (like dancing, walking, or doing yard work). Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

Recipe Sources: Network for a Healthy California, www.cachampionsforchange.net and the Chinatown Public Health Center, San Francisco Department of Public Health, and the USDA Food Stamp Program, through the California Nutrition Network for Healthy, Active Families.

Quick & Easy Recipes!