Healthy students are more likely to succeed and do well at school. Health is not something parents can buy! Health comes from developing healthy lifestyles -- by ensuring your child gets the basics: adequate sleep, plenty of exercise, a well-balanced diet that includes breakfast and limited TV viewing.

To get the school year off to a good start, get the family together to discuss the important health issues and set up some guidelines to follow.

Parents, if you want your child to be healthy and achieve academic success, you need to ensure that your child: Eats breakfast each day.

Follows the nutrition policy by not taking chips, sodas or other "junk'' foods to school.

Takes a lunch to school which supports his/her nutritional and health needs.

Who makes his/her own lunch, has at least four of the five food groups in that lunch.

Who buys lunch, buys the right foods to meet his/her nutritional needs.

Breakfast -- Don't leave home without it! Studies show that children who eat breakfast do better in school than those who skip breakfast. Not only is performance affected, but other factors attributed to lack of breakfast include: stomach aches, irritability, headaches, fatigue and increased susceptibility to infection. Unfortunately, one third of Bermuda's teens do not eat breakfast. The main reason students do not eat breakfast is because they do not have enough time.

Breakfast can be quick and easy. Here are a few breakfast ideas to encourage your family to eat breakfast: Make sure there is time to relax. Do not hurry eating.

Use easy to fix foods such as, ready-to-eat cereal with milk and juice.

Eat any type of food not just breakfast-type foods. Sandwiches, leftovers, or even pizza appeal to some at breakfast time! Set the table the night before, so the bowl and cereal are ready to use.

Take something to eat on the run, such as fruit, a sandwich or a muffin with cheese.

Support Food and Nutrition Policy .

In support of good health of Bermuda's young people the Department of Education has adopted a healthful nutrition policy. The health for success: Food and Nutrition policy states that: All foods consumed on the school premises will contribute to the health and welfare of the students.

Lunch The food your child eats during the school day should provide at least one-third of the day's nutrient requirements. Make sure your child's lunch contains foods from at least four of the five food groups: milk meat or alternate bread or cereal fruit vegetable Primary students usually have nutritious lunches, however, lunches begin to deteriorate as students get older. This usually happens when students are given the responsibility of making their own lunches or are given money to buy lunch. Parents need to help a child develop skills for planning and packing his/her own lunch, and check to see it is appropriate.

Snacks Smart snacking on foods from the food groups will help balance your child's diet -- this does not mean a child can never eat chocolates, chips or sodas. It is how often and how much "junk'' food is eaten that causes problems. "Junk'' foods are fun foods to be eaten on an occasional basis.

Help your child understand that foods from the food groups are everyday foods while "junk'' foods are sometimes foods. Do not confuse your child by telling him "junk food is bad for you'' and then give it to him as a reward or a treat.

Family Mealtimes It is hard with busy schedules to have family mealtimes, but do try. Mealtime is an important time for the family to get together as a unit. Eating together is a time for family sharing as well as for developing social and communication skills. Studies show that children who do well at school are those who regularly eat meals with their families -- with the TV turned off! Be active Your child will not get enough physical activity at school, so it is important that you encourage him or her to get some physical activity after school and on weekends.

Many children dislike physical activity because they are not good at it. It is important that your child understands that not every child will be a star athlete but practice is the only thing that will improve his/her ability. So encourage your child to be more active, to improve fitness and increase his/her enjoyment of exercise.

Limit TV viewing Do not let TV control your family's life! Limit TV viewing to one to two hours a day. If your child has a TV in his/her room, you will have little control over what or how much time is spent watching TV.

Excessive TV watching is related to overweight, sleep deprivation, skipped breakfast and poor academic performance.

Sleep Most parents can identify with how they feel after a late night. They just cannot function at their best the next day and feel tired and irritable.

A child who does not get enough sleep feels this way too. So make sure your child gets adequate sleep.

A child needs sleep ten to 12 hours each night and a teen nine to ten hours.

Check with your child's teacher to see what she/he thinks -- teachers can tell if a child is tired and hungry because he or she cannot sit still and concentrate. Set an alarm or timer to signal bedtime so your child knows exactly when it's time to go to bed! It is never too late or too early to provide your child with the greatest gift of all: Good health habits. It's a gift that will last a lifetime! Betsy Baillie is a Registered Dietitian with the Department of Health and may be contacted by phone at 236-0224 ext. 355.

Healthy habits: Betsy Baillie MINI SUPPLEMENT SUP