Healthy Habits for Every Age
A parent-friendly guide to balanced eating, label reading, hydration, and simple meal planning—from Kindergarten to High School.
Age‑Scaled Focus
- K–2: food groups, colors, trying new foods
- 3–5: balanced snacks, sugar awareness, hydration
- 6–8: macros/micros, simple label reading
- 9–12: meal planning, budget, performance nutrition
Hydration & Movement
Encourage water first. Connect nutrition with sleep and movement. Build simple routines: water bottle at desk, fruit first, veggie with dinner.
Label Basics
Teach serving size first. Then calories per serving, added sugar, sodium, and fiber. Practice with two labels and compare.
Weekly Meal Planner
Where Your Food Comes From
Seed → Plant → Plate
Connect meals to plant parts: roots (carrots), stems (celery), leaves (spinach), fruits (tomatoes), seeds (beans). Try identifying plant parts at dinner.
Local & Seasonal
Seasonal produce often tastes better and can be budget‑friendly. Look for local farm labels or plan a garden box for salad greens.
Garden‑to‑Table Activity
K–5: Grow basil in a sunny window and make a simple pesto. 6–8: Plan a salad bed and compute cost vs. store‑bought.