What is Nutrition?
Nutrition is the study of food and how it works in your body. Nutrition includes all the stuff that's in your food, such as vitamins, fat, and more. It's important to eat a variety of foods, including the five main food groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy products, protein, and grains,
Protein
fish, chicken, beef, lamb, beans, lentils
CDC guidelines recommend 3-6 oz of protein per day
grains
rice, bread, quinoa, oats, wheat, pasta
CDC guidelines recommend 5-8 oz of whole grains per day
Fruits
apples, bananas, grapes, pears, oranges
CDC guidelines recommend 1 1/2- 2 cups of fruit per day
Vegetables
broccoli, green beans, corn, carrots, cauliflower
CDC guidelines recommend 1 1/2- 3 cups of vegetables per day
Dairy
cheese, milk, yogurt, ice cream, butter
CDC guidelines recommend 2- 3 cups of dairy per day
How does this affect my child?
As fast as children go from the classroom to activities to home and back again, their brains are just as rapidly growing and changing. The foods they eat are important. The early years are critical for brain development, and what they eat affects focus and cognitive skills. The Cambria County Backpack Project is going above and beyond to meet your child's nutritional needs through our weekend backpack program. Within the six meals that are sent home, the child is receiving over 50% of their daily recommended nutritional intake. The foods given correspond to the MyPlate diagram. The CCBP takes pride in providing foods such as vegetables and fruits to your child to help them grow.
Each week CCBP will send home a different informational pamphlet on healthy eating, fun recipes, diet, exercise and so much more! These pamphlets are available weekly on the website for your convenience!
What is MyPlate?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) created MyPlate, an easy-to-follow food guide, to help parents to figure out how to feed their kids nutritious, balanced meals. The divided plate includes sections for vegetables, fruits, grains, and foods high in protein.
Fruits
Grains
Protein
Vegetables
Dairy
For more information on healthy eating, portion sizes, and recommended daily intakes please visit https://www.myplate.gov/ or click on the MyPlate diagram
