Going GREEN iSCHOOL
An Advocacy Promoting Environmental Health and Sanitation in School
Healthy Food Eating Practices
Adequate nutrition and proper diet are needed for children to grow and develop. Providing supervision about healthy eating behavior and safe food practices should be emphasized to parents and school teachers as they are the keys to modify the behavior and food preferences of the children. Foods equipped with adequate nutritional value are needed not only for child's growth and development but also serve as protection and to combat infectious diseases from the environment.
The Food Pyramid
Healthy eating practices commence on determining first what are musts and the ones to be taken on limitation or those to be avoided. The Food Pyramid is a nutritional model in the shape of pyramid. It is a perfect guide for healthy food preferences and habits especially among children for them to seek and choose good nutrition and to continue these practices in the future.
Parents and school teachers must reiterate what balanced diet is and guide the children in choosing a variety of food with high nutritional value.
The food pyramid is divided into 6 sections such as grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, milk and fats. The pyramid offers the guidelines on adequate portions or servings an individual can take. According to Food and Drug Administration, an individual can eat variety of foods from the 6 food groups in the pyramid however, those 6 food groups should not be eaten in the same amount or portions that's why food servings or portions. Serving sizes or portions indicates the maximum amount of food group to be taken in every single day.
My Food Pyramid, My Plate
The Food Pyramid Guide of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ended its campaign on 2005 and replaced it with My Plate. My plate is more understandable and designed to be easy- to-follow model. The plate icon is divided into 4 portions on how much a person can put into his plate every meal. This is an easy guide to a balanced diet through eating a variety of nutritional goods.
Following my plate guidelines makes it easier to achieve a well balanced diet and optimal for growth and development especially among the children. The following are the important points to note on how My Plate works:
1. Choose a variety of foods from different food groups.
2. The half portion of your plate should be for vegetables and fruits.
3. About one quarter of your plate is for grains and another one
quarter is fro your protein.
4. Avoid consuming large portions of foods.
My plate is divided into 4 division also including fats as another group. The food groups includes vegetables, fruits, grains and proteins. Kids and teens have different nutritional needs necessary for their optimal growth and development. Having a sound body prevents one from any type of diseases that can be gained from the environment.
Food Pyramid Guide for Filipino Kids and Teens
Safe Foods, A key for Better Nutrition and Health
Fightback.org campaigns food safety tips through educating children and their families about food safety and reduce any chances of food poisoning or other infectious diseases brought by improper food handling and practices.
In order to keep the food safe from harmful bacteria and other microorganism, Fightbac organization identified four core practices on safe food handling. These should be learned by families and teachers so that children may become aware of it and also practice it and eventually pass it on in the future.
Clean Wash Hands and surface often
Separate Don’t cross contaminate
Cook Cook to proper temperature
Chill Refrigerate promptly.