Sandra Arevalo

Children who don’t eat lunch at school and spend long hours with an empty stomach tend to snack more when they return home and eat larger dinners, many children don’t eat breakfast either, making their first meal at home after returning from school.

Start by making sure that your child always eats something before going to school, quick and nutrient rich foods to eat in the morning include whole grain cereals with low fat milk, a yogurt parfait, a cereal bar with a cup of low-fat milk, a fruit and/or vegetables smoothie, egg, cheese or turkey sandwich or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread.

We have been conducting our program as an after school program that meets twice per week for two hours, during these two hours we talk about eating healthy, practice basic cooking skills, exercise and teach children useful tips to maintain good health.

The South Bronx is considered a food desert, where bodegas (corner stores), that offer mostly cheap and poor quality food, are abundant.

We talk to them about healthy food choices, reading nutrition facts labels, portion control, healthy food choices when eating out and healthier drinks, among others.