https://consumer.healthday.com/fitness-information-14/misc-health-news-265/10-minutes-of-sweat-a-day-helps-kids-hearts-721107.html
Lots of kids love sweet foods like cookies, candy, cake and ice cream. And some kids prefer salty snacks, such as chips and pretzels. And, I should think, a lot of kids love both. Is it possible that having a craving for sweets could lead to weight gain? Maybe… 

Cookies or chips? Kids' choices may predict weight gain, study finds
http://www.wtsp.com/news/health/cookies-or-chips-kids-choices-may-

This news story describes a study where researchers gave 200 hungry toddlers their choice of snacks such as cookies or potato chips and kept track of what each child ate. Then they found that kids who were more likely to eat sugary treats were also more likely to gain unhealthy weight by the age of three.

Eating at restaurants or ordering takeout is a popular way to eat and last time I checked, Americans were spending a ton of money on food they weren’t cooking at home. And I totally get that. Cooking can be very time consuming. Grocery shopping alone can take a few hours. Then you need to plan each meal, prep, cook and serve each meal. And then, clean up afterwards. I get tired just writing about it. The thing is, cooking at home is really better for you.

Want cheap and healthy meals? Cook at home
https://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27

This news story from HealthDay describes a study that found eating out frequently was associated with lower diet quality, more calories and higher costs. This isn’t a surprise by any means, so if you want to eat healthier at home, there are things you can do to make it easier.

What to do at school:

• Keep your meals simple. Half of your meal should be fruits or veggies, one fourth should be lean protein and one quarter should be grains.
• Try a service such as Blue Apron or Fresh Direct Meal Kits. They’re affordable and you don’t need to do the shopping.
• Experiment with once a month cooking. If you can set aside one weekend a month (and have the freezer space), you can prep a bunch of meals and store them in the freezer. Pop the meals in the oven to save time during the week.

Vitamin D is certainly an important vitamin. You need it so that your body can use calcium properly and a number of studies linked a potential lack of vitamin D to all kinds of health conditions including heart problems and various types of cancer. Current studies don’t show that taking extra vitamin D will help those conditions, but still, a lot of people are taking vitamin D.

Why are so many people popping vitamin D.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/health/vitamin-d-deficiency-supplements.html

Clearly, the foods you eat have a lot to do with your weight. But part of the solution for a weight problem may be fixing the way you eat. There are a number of eating habits that people develop over time. Some are good and some are bad. Eating in front of the TV is probably one of the bad ones.

No TV during meals may lower obesity risk
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316781.php

This news story from MedicalNewsToday talks about a study that looks at the links between family meal practices and obesity. What the found was that quality of family meals was more important than how many family meals were eaten during the week. And families whose meals were home cooked and not eaten while watching TV had the lowest rates of obesity.

Some counties in New York banned trans fats a few years ago and a national ban on trans fats will begin in 1018. Although I know this feels like ‘food policing,’ I really think this is a good idea. And studies are starting to show that may be true.

Trans fat ban saved lives in New York, study shows
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/trans-fat-ban-saved-lives-new-york-study-shows-n745631

This news story from HealthDay describes a study that found eating out frequently was associated with lower diet quality, more calories and higher costs. This isn’t a surprise by any means, so if you want to eat healthier at home, there are things you can do to make it easier.

What to do at school:

• Teach kids about dietary fats. Which ones are good and which ones are bad.
• Have students find recipes that include healthier fats.
• Teach your class to read food labels. Which foods are lowest in trans fats?

Hotlunch.com is the only web-based system of its kind. Take a look at these testimonials to see how Hotlunch.com made an impact for these schools.
http://hotlunch.com/testimonials.html

• With Hotlunch.com you can publish lunch menus online, receive payments and automate administration of your Hotlunch at school.

• Hotlunch.com has been used by schools all over the nation to manage after school care, volunteer recruitment, capital campaigns and much more!

• Manage multiple schools, nutrition information, reduced fee lunches, inventory and much much more

• Faster Reports, and easier access, you can be up and running in less than an hour.

• Ask us how today. Call 1-888-376-7136 or email [email protected]

Hotlunch.com has expanded our online  presence to Facebook. The new Hotlunch.com Facebook Page will provide you a wealth of information and updates on School and Children’s nutrition.

Hotlunch.com is giving back to underprivileged girls
Check out the progress we have made at www.ainiti.org
Please ask us how your school can help, email [email protected]