March is Nutrition Month! For over 30 years, Nutrition Month has been raising public awareness across Canada about the importance of healthy eating. This year Canadian dietitians are discussing how healthy eating is about so much More than Food. Canadians are being encouraged to consider not only what they eat, but how they eat it too.
At The Children’s Breakfast Clubs, we ensure our students receive a hot, nutritious breakfast meal every morning so that they have the necessary nutrients and energy required to do well in school. Throughout the year we teach our students about healthy lifestyle choices and emphasize the importance of eating well and staying active. This month in particular, our students will be participating in fun and interactive activities to learn more about nutrition and healthy eating habits!
Below are some helpful nutrition tips that you can share with your family and friends:
Healthy Eating Habits
- Be mindful of your eating habits and take your time to eat. There’s no need to rush through your meal!
- Pay attention to when you’re hungry and when you’re full. Listen and follow your feelings so that you can determine exactly when and how much to eat.
- Appreciate and savor your food! Enjoy the taste of your meal and the various food related activities that go along with eating.
Cook More Often
- Try to plan your meals ahead of time whenever possible. It’s an easy step that can help you cook more frequently, save money and eat healthier.
- Eat less processed foods and try to make more meals at home from scratch. Cooking allows you to learn new skills and rely less on unhealthy foods.
- Bring your lunch from home! Avoid the temptation of spending money and buying unhealthy food item from restaurants, cafes or vending machines.
- Involve your family members and friends in the planning and preparing of meals. The more the merrier! Make cooking a fun experience and enjoy the quality time with your loved ones.
Get the Kids Involved
- Encourage your kids to join you in the kitchen and help prepare meals. Let your children help you plan the meal from the start so that they can choose and help prepare something they love to eat.
- When you’re cooking with your kids, be a role model! If you’re excited to cook, they will be too.
- Imaginative play is a great way to get your children involved in the kitchen. Create a theme night ie. Taco Tuesdays or turn your kitchen into a restaurant for the evening! Make it a fun and memorable experience for you and your kiddos.
- Cooking with your children gives you a great opportunity to share important food skills, special recipes and traditions with them.
Embrace your Food Culture and Traditions
- Healthy eating is about more than food, it’s also about family, memories and emotions!
- Embrace and enjoy your own food culture and traditions and share it with others.
- Preserve your cultural roots by teaching your children some classic family favourite recipes. Explain to them how you learned to cook and why these particular dishes mean so much to you.
Eat Meals with Others
- Enjoy healthy meals with your family, neighbours, friends and co-workers! It’s an excellent way to connect with important people in your life and enjoy their company.
- When eating with others, use it as an opportunity to learn more about their food culture and explore other traditions and recipes.
- Dinner is not the only meal you can enjoy with others! Depending on how hectic your evening schedule is, plan a delicious breakfast meal or enjoy a lunch together on weekends.
To learn more about Nutrition Month and get additional tips click here. Be sure to keep up those healthy eating habits throughout the year and encourage your family members to do the same!
For more information on The Children’s Breakfast Clubs contact our team at 437.836.6222 or email info@breakfastclubs.ca.
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