Michelle Obama Initiates Change

By now you’ve most likely heard about Mrs. Obama’s plan to promote a multifaceted campaign that will include more healthful food in schools, more accuracy in food labeling, grocery stores in areas that don’t have them, and efforts to get children to be more active. But please don’t sit back and put your feet up to watch how it all pans out. You play an essential role in this plan.

If you have kids or plan to (better to start earlier than later), you need to think about the transition to more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low calorie beverages. The type of food offered at home should complement proposed healthy offerings at school. Maybe you already put 100% whole grain products on the table, try a variety  of fruits and vegetables, and point to the water pitcher when someone claims they are thirsty.

Stay ahead of the changes at school that may cause kids to balk if they do not get an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the appearance, taste, and texture at home. Here are some ideas:

• have the kids help make baked chicken nuggets
• design an attractive vegie platter with yogurt-based dip, include carrots, zucchini, jicama, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, etc.
• mix a batch of whole grain bread dough in a bread machine and let the kids bake rolls. Using part oat flour gives a sweet, delicious flavor to the bread
• use the same dough method to prepare personal-size whole grain pizzas with low fat shredded cheese and sliced peppers, mushrooms, onions, etc. as toppings
• experiment with different oatmeal cookie recipes substituting different dried fruits for the raisins. Golden raisins have a more delicate flavor than dark raisins. You could try dates, dried cranberries, cherries, or blueberries.

If we give kids the chance to enjoy fresh, lower fat, correctly seasoned foods they will be able to make a seamless transition to healthy school meals.