Healthy School Food

Consuming healthy foods enables children to develop good habits and build their health and reduce risk of diseases and conditions, particularly obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. However, menus in many schools include foods that are high in substances that increase risks, such as sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol and contain insufficient amounts of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and fiber. Consult your nutritionist about a healthy diet for your children.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are among the healthiest foods for children. Fruits and vegetables contain an abundance of nutrients that include vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Plus, they also contain dietary fiber, an indigestible substance that helps to promote regular bowel movements, reduces the amount of cholesterol from food that gets absorbed into your body and slows down the amounts of sugar absorption into your blood to help you regulate blood sugar levels. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children consume generous amounts of fruits and vegetables each day to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Legumes

Legumes are a part of a healthy diet for children and include beans, lentils and peas. Legumes contain protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fiber. Adding beans as a side dish or even a main dish, such as chili, can make a nutritious meal for children. Foods made with soy beans, such as tofu, soy milk, soy burgers and tempeh, provide a complete protein and healthy fats and may reduce your risk of heart disease.

Whole Grains

Whole grains contain the entire kernel, including the bran, germ and endosperm and provide more nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, oils and fiber, than refined grains that manufacturers strip away nutrients during processing. Whole grains include rye, barley, wheat, oat, amaranth and brown rice. Feeding children a whole grain at each meal can enhance the nutritional value and reduce the risk of disease.

Healthy Beverages

Children need to drink healthy beverages to improve and sustain health. Rather than serve sweetened beverages that increase risk of weight gain and obesity, your school should serve beverages such as filtered spring water, low-fat cow's milk, almond milk and soy milk. Low-fat cow's milk contains quality protein and calcium to help children build strong bones. Research by scientists at the Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Changsha, China and \published in the "Journal of Hygiene Research" in 2011 discovered that long-term consumption of milk in meals at school could increase bone density in children. Almond milk and soy milk are also quality sources of protein and calcium. Plus, almond milk contains vitamin E, a nutrient that protects cells from environmental toxins.