According to the U.S. CDC, an estimated 90 percent of all U.S. school districts require a nutritional education component to their health curriculum. Does your child's school curriculum include age-appropriate units on nutrition and its importance to health and disease prevention? Does it address the importance of an active lifestyle in health maintenance? Requirements for health education vary by state and district policy. Check with your school district or state department of education to determine what the standards are.

Nutrition curriculum is often tied into the food service offerings at a school or district. The FNS offers a variety of educational materials for teachers and students. It's always good policy to practice what you preach, so if the food your child is faced with in the cafeteria doesn't meet the standards prescribed in the nutrition education she's receiving, talk to her teacher or principal about it.