With school soon to be back in session,
the thought of healthy and nutritious lunch that your child will actually eat
can be daunting, especially for those who have picky eaters. Children’s lunches
should provide adequate amounts of calories and nutrients to keep a child well-nourished
throughout the entire school day. While keeping nutrition and foods that your
child will actually eat in mind, may seem like an impossible task, I’m here to tell
you it is not.
If you involve your child in the
food selection for their lunches, you are more apt to succeed in packing
something they will eat! Have them help prepare their own lunches and pack
them.
At school your child has more
control over what they will and will not eat during lunch. They can choose to eat the green beans or
throw them out. They can also choose to eat the apple over the ice cream
sandwich. So packing a meal could be a
more rewarding choice when it comes to your child’s health and nutrition.
Most kids have the choice of
packing lunch or eating what is served in the cafeteria. Children can get a healthy
lunch either way, but that is not always the case. Some meals and foods served
in the cafeteria are healthier than others. That doesn’t mean that your child
should not eat what is served in the cafeteria, it just means that you may want
to take a closer look at the menu. Be sure that the meal is healthy and is
something your child will eat. If the menu does not meet those criteria, pack a
meal for that day.
On the other hand, a packed lunch
isn’t necessarily healthier if you pack it with chocolate cake and potato chips!
A packed meal, if done right, does have a clear advantage. Foods that your
child likes can be packed. Offer them choices and include them in the preparation
process.
When packing a lunch choose
fruits and vegetables. They offer lots of nutrition and are packed with
vitamins and fiber. Try to fit one to two servings in at lunch. You should also
know the facts about fat. Kids need some fat in their diet to stay healthy, and
also help them feel full, but should be used in moderation. Grains are also
necessary, but not all grains are created equal. Remember that whole grains are
healthier than refined grains.
Drinks are important when packing
lunches as well. Milk has been a favorite lunchtime drink for a long time, but
if your child does not like milk, pack them a bottle of water, but avoid juice
drinks and soda.
Balanced meals are another
important factor to consider when preparing a lunch. It should include a mix of
food groups: some grains, some fruits, some vegetable, some meat or protein
foods, and some dairy foods such as mile and cheese. If there are not a variety
of foods, it is probably not balanced. Also, steer clear of packaged snacks
such as chips and candy. They are okay every once in a while, but should not be
part of the lunch menu.
Lastly, mix it up! If you pack
the same lunch every day, your child could become bored with that meal and not
eat, even if it is their favorite food. Change up the routine! Eating lots of
different kinds of food gives the body a variety of nutrients.