Fresh Beginnings 
Parents Newsletter

Hartford Public Schools
Department of Food Services and Nutrition Education
Fall Edition, 1999

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This school year the Hartford Public Schools' Food Services and Nutrition Education Department is starting a new program, called "Fresh Beginnings" just for kindergarten students, and their parents. "Fresh Beginnings" is a nutrition education program initiated from a Team Nutrition Education grant from the state of Connecticut. Staff members in our department wrote the grant because we know eating habits are learned and are not instinctive, so tasting new foods is the best way to expand a child's appreciation for a variety of foods. We hope the impact of nutrition education and the accessibility to a variety of fruits and vegetables will encourage your children to eat more of them at home and in the cafeteria.
 
 

Help your family dine healthy when they are hungry with these tips:

• Always have whole fresh fruit available so children will choose it instead of chips.
• Carrot sticks can be purchased in ready to eat packets - after a rinse.
• Prepare a tray of vegetables and low fat dip (or low fat salad dressing) before dinner so children and adults can snack on it before meals.
• Stir fry lots of vegetables with leftover meat/fish/ poultry for a healthy dinner.
• Serve fresh or canned fruit instead of a vegetable occasionally at meal time.

• Add fresh or dry fruits to breakfast cereals.
• Snack on fruits and vegetables.
• Drink 100 % fruit juices instead of sodas.
• Eat salads with meals
• Canned fruits packed in its own juice make an excellent dessert.
• Dried fruits are great snacks for children and adults on the go.
• Try a super snack- fill an ice cream cone with your favorite fruits.

Making time for exercise is difficult for many families, but the benefits of regular physical activity are many. Active and physically fit children not only have fewer health problems, they also, on average, do better in school and feel better about themselves than students who are not fit. Establishing an exercise routine for the whole family is one of the best things parents can do for and with their children.
 
 

Help your children re-discover school meals. The school breakfast and lunch programs in Hartford meet all the requirements for the Healthy Meals Initiatives which are required by the federal government. We offer variety, fresh fruits and vegetables, low fat meals, and overall good nutrition and it is available without charge to all children enrolled in Hartford Public Schools !
 

Breakfast is still the most important meal of the day. It helps get children ready to learn, helps boost test scores and lowers absenteeism. A breakfast, at no charge, is offered at each HPS elementary school before the start of the school day.
 

Contact Susan Davis, Nutrition Education Coordinator- Food Services and Nutrition Education Department, Hartford Public Schools - 297-8490 with questions or comments about the first of two Fresh Beginnings Newsletters for parents.