Childhood Obesity and Poor Nutrition have become major health concerns over the past decade. Children are constantly bombarded on television with commercials aimed at getting children to encourage their parents buy all sorts of unhealthy food products. The future health implications of poor nutrition are serious ones, namely obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.

Please take the time to talk with your children about smart food choices, and how important they are for learning and doing well at school, at sports and play, and for feeling good and staying healthy. It's easier for children to make healthy food choices when they know their families "nutrition rules." For example, everyone in the family starts the day with breakfast, milk is the beverage served at meals, and in-school and after-school snacks are from the food groups, not the tip of the food pyramid. Or perhaps sweets are permitted, but one per day instead of four or five.

When ordering food from a fast food restaurant, convenience store or vending machine, encourage your child to find more nutritious options such as shakes or flavored milk instead of soda. On a daily basis here at Nixon, many students are bringing in chips, cookies, brownies, candy, and sugar-based drink boxes for their daily in-school snack. After eating a high sugar food it is normal to experience a sluggish sensation which inhibits the ability to pay attention and concentrate in class.

Please pack your child snacks that are not only are healthy choices but will make them feel better. Healthy choices include: yogurt, cheese and crackers, pretzels, peanut-butter and crackers (unless your child is in a peanut-free classroom), fresh fruit, dry cereal, popcorn, granola bars ( not the candy bar type), veggies with low fat dip, yogurt covered pretzels and raisins. A small 8 oz. water bottle or 100% juice box would be a much healthier choice than the "juice" boxes that have little or no juice, but plenty of sugar.