Healthy Kids Eat Here
Participating restaurants offer healthy kids’ meals that include fruits and vegetables, healthy beverages and non-fried foods. Restaurants are also offering smaller portion sizes of existing menu items, and tap water free of charge. Look for the Choose Health LA Restaurants decal to find healthy kids’ meals and more portion size options in your neighborhood.
Healthy Start: Breastfeeding
- Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants, and breastfeeding has been shown to promote mother-infant bonding.
- Breastfed children benefit from greater immunity against a variety of illnesses and infections during infancy, but also benefit lifelong from:
- reduced risk of diabetes, asthma, allergies, overweight/obesity, and certain cancers
- enhanced visual, motor, and oral development
- higher IQ and school performance
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, with continued breastfeeding through at least 12 months of age.
- Approximately 80% of mothers in Los Angeles County initiate breastfeeding, 49% continue breastfeeding through six months after delivery, and 29% breastfeed through 12 months after delivery.
Healthy Habits Start Early
Eating fruits and vegetables and being physically active are simple ways to make your family healthier. These healthy habits from California Champions for Change can help your kids:
- Grow and develop strong bodies.
- Feel good about themselves.
- Lower their future risk of diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.
Parents can help kids make healthy choices by:
- Keeping fruits and vegetables in easy-to-reach places at home.
- Including fruits and/or vegetables with every meal and snack.
- Offering new fruits and vegetables several times. Prepare them in different ways (raw vs. cooked, chopped vs. whole) to find which way your child likes them best.
- Encouraging exercise and play throughout the day.
- Limiting TV and video games (screen time) to 2 hours or less a day.
Healthy changes are good for the whole family. Be a role model by:
- Setting a good example by choosing more fruits and vegetables yourself.
- Staying active yourself and being active with your kids. Go for family walks, ride bikes together, or play at a local park.
- Making mealtime family time. Make a routine of having one sit-down meal together each day.
- Letting kids help in the kitchen. Younger kids can tear lettuce for salads, rinse fruits and vegetables, or break broccoli into smaller parts. Older kids can learn to chop and help cook.
Healthy Changes Start in Child Care
Preschool-aged children consume much of their food in child care settings, which places responsibility on the child care facility to provide nutritious options. The Choose Health LA Child Care program is enhancing nutrition and physical activity in childcare settings by:
- Increasing child care providers’ knowledge about nutrition and physical activity
- Improving eating habits and physical activity of children
- Implementing healthy child care policies