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Healthier eating is on the menu for school children as a result of the USDA’s announcement that it will adopt new guidelines for school lunches.

For the first time in 15 years, the Department of Agriculture is requiring school lunch programs to reduce trans fats and sodium. The programs will also be required to add more fresh fruits, veggies and whole grains to the menu in an effort to combat obesity.

Dietitians at NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital’s outpatient nutrition program say it’s always a good idea to start healthy eating habits early in life to prevent chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease later in life.

"Once bad eating habits are established they are harder to break," said Lisbeth Irish, RD, CDE, CDN, Outpatient Dietitian at NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital. "Children also tend to influence their parents choices. If they are sold on healthier foods, chances are that the whole family will be more enthusiastic about making better food choices."

Irish said that the Outpatient Nutrition Department at Hudson Valley Hospital can help anyone develop smarter eating habits.

NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital’s Outpatient Nutrition Program offers:

• Individualized nutrition counseling
• Nutrition education for the management of chronic disease
• Evaluation of current diet and food intake
• Education on food labels and understanding portion sizes
• Guidelines for eating out
• Medical nutrition therapy for Medicare Part B beneficiaries with diabetes or non-dialysis renal disease (beginning in February 2011).

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact the Nutrition Counseling Department at 914-734-3022 or email [email protected]

Media note: Outpatient nutrition staff available to comment on new USDA guidelines.