PART 1 DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM WITH PHONE OR TABLET Did you know? Portions and servings are two different things. A portion is how much someone puts on a plate, and it can range greatly, from two cups of macaroni and cheese to three noodles. A serving is how much of an item is recommended by the USDA and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (Refer to appendix G in this book for the MyPlate serving recommendations for children.) Helping children manage their portions is important. Few people instinctively understand what a serving is, but they can learn to take only what they need—which will often mimic a suggested serving size. A person can always take more if she’s still hungry. Doing that is better than piling heaps of food on a plate. To help children, you can model portion control and use serving utensils that encourage taking appropriate portions. In a culture of oversized portions, where “More is better” seems to be our mantra, portion control is an important lifelong skill.   Enough food is provided so all children and teachers can have adequate servings of everything.   Children are encouraged to serve themselves so they can begin to regulate and choose their own portions.   The food looks appetizing. Did you know? Adults don’t like to eat food that doesn’t look appetizing—children are no different. Take a few simple steps to make sure food is appealing: serve foods at safe temperatures, cook green vegetables in a way that retains their vibrant color, and provide a variety of colorful healthy foods at each meal.   Salt, sugar, and fats are not separately available to add after food has been prepared. 16 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL