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                         March 8, 2002

KELLER
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A weekly column of informative one-line tips provided by the Keller Army Community Hospital organizations. Questions regarding information that appears in this section should be directed to Mary-Patrice Ruocco at 938-4835.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

t ... March is National Nutrition Month and the theme this year is "Start Today for a Healthy Tomorrow?" Childhood nutrition is important and children learn by example. By incorporating vegetables, fruits and whole grains into their diets, parents can be great role models for good nutrition. Encourage your children to help in meal planning and preparation. Allow them to choose their favorite vegetable at the grocery store and have them help prepare dinner. You’ll be giving them a great foundation for their long-term health.

Studies show that incorporating good nutrition at an early age can have many positive effects on your short- and long-term health. Make healthy eating a family affair.

Each day during the month of March and beyond, set a goal to decrease the time your family spends watching TV or playing video games. Instead, get your family involved in a healthy and active lifestyle. Here are simple tips on how parents can encourage their children to eat healthy:

-- Page through a cookbook together to find a new recipe for a vegetable or fruit dish

-- Have your children help make dinner, even if it’s just stirring or pouring. Children want to feel like they are a part of the process. And they are more likely to want to eat what they helped make

--Offer kids a variety of healthy snacks after school

--Whenever possible, make meals a family affair