March is National Nutrition Month – 9 Steps to a Great Lunch

  1. Clean hands! Wash your hands before preparing food and eating it.
  2. Choose fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and fiber. It’s a good idea to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. A serving of carrots would be just 10 sticks. A fruit serving could be one medium orange or a box of 100% fruit juice.
  3. Know the facts about fat. Kids need some fat in their diets to stay healthy, but you don’t want to eat too much of it. Fat is found in butter, oils, cheese, nuts, and meats. Some higher-fat lunch foods include French fries, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, macaroni and cheese, and chicken nuggets. Don’t worry if you like these foods! No food is bad, but you may want to eat them less often and in smaller portions. Some of the best low-fat foods are fruits, vegetables, and skim or low-fat milk.
  4. Let whole grains reign. “Grains” include breads, cereals, rice, and pasta. What’s the difference between whole grains and refined grains? Whole grains have more nutritional value, including fiber that can help prevent obesity. Brown rice and whole wheat bread are whole grains. White rice and 100% white bread are not.
  5. Slurp sensibly. It’s not just about what you eat – drinks count, too! Milk has been a favorite lunchtime drink for a long time. If you don’t like milk, choose water or 100% juice (be sure to count it as a fruit serving!) Avoid juice drinks and sodas – they have LOTS of sugar, and less nutritional value.
  6. Balance your lunch. Pack a lunch that includes a mix of food groups: some grains, some fruits, some vegetables, some meat or protein foods, and some dairy foods such as milk and cheese.
  7. Steer clear of packaged snacks. Many packaged chips and cookies are very high in fat and salt or sugar. Try some lower fat/sugar/salt snacks such as pretzels, raisins, or homemade trail mix.
  8. Mix it up. Eating lots of different kinds of food gives your body a variety of nutrients.
  9. Use Manners. Chew with mouth closed. Don’t talk and eat at the same time to prevent spitting your food or choking. Use utensils. Put a napkin on your lap. Be polite. And don’t make fun of what someone else is eating.

March-National_Nutrition_Month.pdf
Annette Johansen, RN Steller School Nurse

Resources: – www.kidshealth.org; www.eatright.org

Kitchen cleaning – please help

The Steller kitchen will undergo it’s 2nd health inspection of the year, this or next week.

TOB cleaned before the 1st inspection and earned a 100%  – woo-woo!

In preparation for this inspection, TOB has cleaned all the areas and equipment they use but has NOT cleaned areas and equipment they do not use.

If you have used the kitchen–even once–since the start of the year, please make time to come in and clean/put away any non-TOB areas – including the first fridge, ovens and dish drying racks.

Thanks!

Justice for Youth By Youth – Feb 23rd

Kids these days….

…Are Awesome!

See them in action at the Mountain View Library on Thursday February 23 as the Anchorage Youth Court  presents Justice for Youth By Youth.  Come watch young clerks, bailiffs, attorneys and judges perform a mock trial and then share with the audience aspects of their work, the program, and their positive impact on our community. 

The Anchorage Youth court is a juvenile justice system that empowers students to serve as defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges in cases involving their peers.

If you missed the Youth Court presentation at Chugiak HS for the Knik Lecture Series, here’s your chance to see them at the Tundra Vision Lecture Series in Mountain View!

Public Engagement and Refreshments (courtesy of Michele Miller) at 6pm
Mock Trial at 6:30pm

Free event and Family Friendly

For details, visit Tundra Vision on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TundraVision/

Anchorage Youth Court’s Gavel Games – Friday, March 3

Anchorage Youth Court’s 13th Annual Gavel Games fundraiser is taking place Friday, March 3 at the UAA Lucy Cuddy Hall.  The fun begins at 6 pm!

The evening features a pub-style trivia game, a delicious dinner, a live and silent auction, and a game of heads or tails.  Tickets are $50 each, or $200 for a team of four.  There are still a few tickets left.  Call the office at 274-5986 to reserve your seat today.

This year’s auction has a wide range of items generously donated by our community and beyond.  Bidding is open to the public from 7:30 to 8:15 pm.  Visit our auction website to see what there is to bid on:http://charityauction.bid/AYC