Longer days, warmer temperatures, antsy kiddos...these tell-tale signs remind us summer vacation is just around the corner. While there are lots of ways summer affects kids' eating habits, their diets don't need to take a vacation from good nutrition. Here are ways to teach students to make nutritious choices and take nutrition learning home for the summer, with Little D's Nutrition Expedition®:

Milk 'n Summer — During the school year kids are more likely to drink milk with lunch, while during the summer they tend to gravitate to other beverages. Teach kids that when school is out, milk is still in with Sir Milkford and Lady Holly's Milk Group, Activity 2, and have them take home and share the Thank Goodness for Cows mini booklet they create. Also encourage them to order milk instead of soda when they eat out. Many quick-service and other restaurants now serve milk in cool, plastic bottles that kids love. In fact, more and more schools are serving the New Look of School Milk, ice-cold milk in plastic bottles and lots of flavors. Milk's new look increases milk consumption and school meal participation, which boosts kids' overall nutrition and wellness.

Smart Snacks — Snacks contribute close to 20 percent of kids' daily nutrient intake, so choosing healthful snacks is as important with summer's busy schedules, as during the school year. Practice identifying smart snacks and solve Little D's snack problems in the Smart Snacking Dragon, Activity 9. Reinforce the smart snack message with Snack Dancing movement breaks found in Going Further. Parents will welcome the 26 great tasting snack suggestions you send home with the Smart Snacking handout in Little D's Downloadable Materials section.

Summer Reading — Have students bind Little D's food group stories found in Activities 2 through 6 and Activity 10 into a booklet they can take home and re-read during the summer. Before binding their booklets, have each student write a final chapter about what happens after King Henry the Egg changes Little D's name in Healthfully Ever After, Activity 10. For booklet covers, use the Little D, the Five-Food-Group Dragon mini-posters that students create in Activity 10, Step 7.

Online Connection — Tell parents about Little D's nutrition games available online at NutritionExplorations.org > Kids and encourage students to play them for a rainy day break during the summer.

Spread the Word — Have you wanted to tell anther teacher about Little D's Nutrition Expedition, but you didn't have the information handy? Now's your chance. Use our E-Mail a Friend feature that includes a link to our free and easy-to-use enrollment page.