Read the short article and explain in a short paragraph 3-5 sentences how you can make healthy eating options for your meals and snacks during the day at home or at school. Nutrition tips: Here's how to help your child Here's how you can help your seventh-grader eat healthy. By Jamie Farnsworth Finn Want to help your seventh-grader develop healthy eating habits? Here are some tips from experts. Balanced meals Try to teach your child about the importance of a well-balanced meal. Have them demonstrate that knowledge by packing their own lunch, or occasionally planning family dinners. Make sure they have half the plate filled with fruits and vegetables. Personal diet Try to talk to your seventh-grader about the food they're eating when you’re not around. If they are into sports, highlight the importance of a healthy diet to their athletic performance. If they are concerned about their complexion, highlight the impact of healthy foods and water to a clear complexion. When you explain the benefits of healthy eating as it applies to things they're particularly concerned about, they may be more likely to take your advice. Stocking the kitchen Keep items in your kitchen healthy. If you buy chips or cookies, your child will eat them. When they're helping themselves to snacks in the kitchen, making healthy choices is easy if it's the only choice they have. And if you can’t control what they eat out of the house, you can at least make sure what she’s eating at home is healthy. Family meals Make time for healthy family meals. It allows you to model healthy eating and is a good time to catch up with your active child. Mindless snacking Keep an eye out for mindless snacking while doing homework, talking on the phone, or watching television. It’s easy for a tween to not pay attention to snacks while multitasking. If your child has a problem with this, you can make snacking permitted only in the kitchen. Sandwiches Switch up your seventh-grader's sandwich (or have them make their own) by adding different vegetables