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Happy Meals!

Written by Foundling Guest Blogger, Madeline Rizzuti, RDN

 

Last month, New York Foundling’s Registered Dietitians from the Developmental Disabilities Program spent a day at Haven Academy! Together they gave the students a presentation on a guide to the best and worst of fast food choices. The children learned that fast food can still fit in to a healthy and happy lifestyle as long as smart selections are made when dining at restaurants like McDonalds, Pizza Hut, and take-out Chinese.

 

With the help of dietitians Carlye & Maddie, the students learned tricks to be healthier when eating fast food such as:

 

  • When ordering pizza, stay away from the highly caloric and fatty toppings and choose veggies or plain cheese instead
  • Choose plain burgers or grilled chicken sandwiches at McDonalds instead of the loaded Big Mac or breaded sandwiches
  • Drink flavored seltzer or unsweetened iced tea instead of soda
  • Watch out for portion size, eat slow and don’t order more than you need for one meal!

 

What a fun day it was, and Haven sure has some clever kids in their classrooms. During the menu planning activity at the end of the lesson, the students really impressed everyone with their newly acquired knowledge! Each child was able to identify a ‘better choice’ from a list of foods. Attached to this blog, you can find the activity they did with the answer key. Try it at home with your kids, and test your own knowledge!

 

Remember, fast foods tend to be very high in fat, salt, and calories so it is important to eat in moderation and be wise when ordering! See a Registered Dietitian for more information on healthy dining outside the home.

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