Address

14 Maple Street
P.O. Box 841
Belchertown MA 01007

Phone

413-323-0423

Nutrition

Home 5 Nutrition

Our cafeteria staff plans well-balanced meals for lunch every day.  Please let us know if your child has any special diet concerns.  If your child requires any food substitutions for medical reasons, you can download this form from the Health Forms link.

The Importance of Breakfast!
Breakfast IS THE most important meal of the day! When skipping breakfast, it may be eighteen hours without food between dinner and lunch the next day. Eating breakfast gives students the energy they need to think and feel their best.  Starting every day with a nutritious breakfast will help your child feel more alert, focused, and ready to learn.
Make healthy choices at lunch!
School lunches sent from home should be a nutritious, well-balanced meal that contains foods from all the food groups.
Choose healthy snacks!
Healthy snacks will provide a steady supply of nutrients and energy needed to learn, grow, and play.  Due to the new state regulations on nutrition in school, we have strict guidelines on what we can give to children during the school day.  Please be sure to send a snack every day.
Please refer to our District Website for information on our Wellness Policy.  Also, you can download healthy food choices from the A-List at johnstalkerinstitute.org.
Additionally, take a look at http://www.choosemyplate.gov for more ideas.
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Blueberries

THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAKFAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Starting every day with a nutritious breakfast will help you feel more alert, focused and ready to learn.  Good breakfast choices include low fat milk, whole grain cereal, toast, yogurt, fruit and eggs.

SET THE TABLE FOR GOOD NUTRITION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods, such as whole grains, fat free and low-fat dairy foods, lean protein, fruits and vegetables at meals and snacks  provides the calories and nutrients a school age child needs to learn and play.

Choose My Plate offers information about making healthier food choices and being active.  This website also has tips on healthy eating on a budget, sample menus and recipes, food safety advice and other various topics.

http://www.choosemyplate.gov

Dairy

INTERACTIVE NUTRITION

I have included some websites that provide tools and tips for parents to promote healthy eating and physical activities.

Kidnetic

For kids, try making one of the fun kidnetic.com recipes, find fun games to play inside and outside by yourself or with friends.  For parents, kidnetic is a great resource for raising a healthy child.

http://www.kidnetic.com

NOURISH INTERACTIVE

Nourish interactive is a one stop resource for fun nutrition games for kids, interactive nutrition tools and tips for parents to use to promote healthy living for the whole family.  You will also find recipes, advice and more.

http://www.nourishinteractive.com

Fruits

TOP TIPS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY CHILDHOOD EATING

* Have regular family meals.  Knowing dinner is served at approximately the same time every night and that the entire family will be sitting down together is comforting and enhances appetite.  Breakfast is another great time for a family meal, especially since kids who eat breakfast do better in school.

* Cook more meals at home.  Eating home cooked meals is healthier for the whole family and sets a great example for kids about the importance of food. Restaurant meals tend to have more fat, sugar and salt.  Save dining out for special occasions.

* Get kids involved.  Children enjoy helping adults to shop for groceries, selecting what goes in their lunch box, and preparing dinner.  It’s also a chance for you to teach them about the nutritional values of different foods, and (for older children) how to read food labels.

* Make a variety of healthy snacks available instead of empty calorie snacks.  Keep plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grain snacks, and healthy beverages (water, milk, pure fruit juice) around and easily accessible so kids become used to reaching for healthy snacks instead of empty calorie snacks like soda, chips or cookies.

*Limit portion sizes.  Don’t insist your child cleans the plate, and never use food as a reward or bribe.

Family

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