Did you know one in six American children is overweight? Eighty percent of them will be overweight as adults. Start early. Children who eat a good breakfast are thirty percent less likely to be overweight than those who skip it. Choose energy sustaining proteins such as eggs, peanut butter, and low fat yogurt, which help burn more calories throughout the day. And omega-3s, found in nuts and fish, can increase a child’s IQ by ten points.

Empower your kids to read food labels, and if your child does buy lunch, beware of what I call “a nap in a box”…choices that lack in nutrition, keep alert. Make sure that they stay away from sodas as much as they can. Download the school menus in advance to help make those healthy choices with your kids.