Nutrition Explorations: Cafeteria Marketing & Education: Milk: The Power Behind the Play Promotion Ideas: For Students

Winning Strategies: Tips for Teachers!

Make sure snacks provided in your classroom are nutritious
Support having recess before lunch; children get their playtime in and then eat better and make healthier food choices
Get involved in implementing your school's wellness policy and creating a Healthy School Environment. Visit Implementing School Wellness for more details
Children are bombarded with so many non-nutritious messages each day and need to be educated on making the healthiest choices. Incorporate nutrition in your curriculum whenever possible. For example, use nutritional food labels for a math activity when studying percents
Include activity in student learning. Get students up and out of their chairs, even if it's just a stretch break
Advocate for school fundraisers that include healthy food choices and non-food related choices
Be a role model. Let students see you making healthful food choices. Tell them about activities you do in your free time to stay physically fit

Suggest that teachers have students:

Pretend they're the sports trainer for their favorite athlete and write him a letter explaining the importance of eating nutritious snacks and meals before the big game
Write a commercial about chocolate or strawberry milk for the big game commercial line-up. Have students work in pairs or small groups and act it out in class

Suggest that teachers use these lessons:

Make sure your children are getting at least 60 minutes of exercise, most, if not all days (recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans)
Have children participate in weight-bearing sports such as football, running and dance, which help to develop higher bone density. Building strong bones in childhood helps to maintain bone health later in life
If your child is on a sports team, take a leadership role and recommend that the game snacks parents provide are nutritious
Computers and TVs are part of every child's life. Let kids do both in moderation (not more than two hours a day) and make sure they balance this time with active play
Children who enjoy exercise are more likely to develop a lifelong, healthful habit of being physically active. If they stay active as adults, they will enjoy better health and may live longer than their less active peers
Children need to consume a healthful diet and plenty of fluids for active play. Plan meals and snacks with a careful eye toward healthy nutrition, so they get the nutrients and energy they need to grow and play
FUN is the key word that motivates kids to be active! Children participate in physical activity for enjoyment, not necessarily the health benefits you want them to get
Parents are critical role models so get active. If you do, your child is more likely to get active, too

Can't find time? There are 24 hours a day. If you spend 6-8 hours sleeping and 8-10 hours working, that still leaves 6-10 hours. Try to structure at least 30 minutes a day for physical activity
Do you think exercise is boring? Walk or jog with a friend to keep you company; or view it as a time to use just to be by yourself to relax and unwind
Do you think exercise is exhausting? Many people find they have more energy after exercise, not less
Do your kids know you are exercising? They may be in school or at some other activity while you are exercising. Make sure you tell them about it and let them know this is an important part of your life and staying healthy