Parents & Schools

As a parent, you have the ability to help make the school meal changes a positive and exciting experience for your child. The new school meals have more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables; low-fat milk; and less salty and fatty foods. Help your child check out these new meals and find what they like. It takes time to get kids to learn to like new foods. Here are some tips to help your children eat healthy foods:

• Make time to join your child for lunch in the school cafeteria
• When your child gets home from school, ask what s/he ate for lunch
• Eat meals with your child as much as you can and let your child see you eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Grocery shop with your child. Talk about where vegetables, fruits, grains, milk and meat come from.
• Try new foods and describe how they smell, feel and taste. Offer one new food at a time and serve something your child likes with that new food.

Messages for Your Child

• Healthy food will help you do your best in school, in sports, and to grow and stay strong.  Power up with fruits, low-fat or non-fat milk, and whole grains. 
• Give It a Try! Fruits and veggies give you what your body needs to be a champion when you ran and play. Eat them at school and at home every day as a meals, snack or dessert. 
• Since you spend so much of your day at school, it's up to you to make healthy food choices when you are there. Eat fruits and vegetables at meals and snacks. Enjoy the taste of eating healthy!
• Make fat-free or low-fat milk your rocket fuel.  You need to help build muscles and provide fuel for your fun.

From USDA The School Day Just Got Healthier

Don't go the traditional route: mix it up and keep lunch fun and healthy! 

• Let your child help choose and prepare their own lunch; they are more likely to eat what they help prepare.
• To prevent sandwich boredom try wraps, meat and cheese roll-ups and crackers and cheese.

Keep these ingredients on hand to keep lunchtime varied:

Hummus                100% Fruit & Vegetable Juice

Peanut Butter         Low-Fat String Cheese

Low-Fat Yogurt      Whole-Grain Crackers

Amy Gannon, RD, Extension Services, West Virginia University

Last updated April 8, 2026