Nutrition for Families

Did You Know?

Kids today are the first generation expected to live shorter lives than their parents.

• 1 in 3 or 4 kids born in 2000 is likely to get diabetes during their life.

• In the past 20 years, the number of overweight kids ages 6–11 has doubled, and it has tripled for teens.

What Are We Doing About It?

Portage Township Schools takes student health seriously. Our district is part of the National School Lunch Program, which follows strict nutrition rules from both the state and federal government. Every school lunch provides at least one-third of the nutrients kids need each day.

We follow the USDA's MyPlate guidelines, which focus on healthy eating and staying active. These tips are made to fit a child’s age, gender, and activity level, and they help families make smart food choices.

Our schools also have a wellness policy and follow federal rules for what must be included in school meals to keep them nutritious and balanced.

How This Helps

For parents: This program makes it easy to give your child a healthy meal at a low cost.

For students: Healthy meals help kids feel better, focus better, and learn more in school. Kids who eat well tend to miss fewer school days, have fewer behavior issues, and do better in class.

What You Can Do

You can help your kids make better choices:

• Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

• Help your kids get at least 60 minutes of exercise every day (adults need 30!)

• Try to eat family meals together at least 3 times a week. Kids who eat with their families often snack less on junk food and feel more connected.