Packing healthy lunches
Want to pack a school lunch that's nourishing for your kids? Want to make sure your child actually eats it, instead of trading or trashing it?
Use these guidelines to come up with winning fare:
- Avoid heavily processed snacks like cereal bars and chips. Sure, it may be convenient to pluck a package from the pantry, but these products are usually loaded with sugar, salt, and saturated or trans fats – and their nutritional value is sometimes negligible.
- Serve up natural goodness. Whole-grain breads and crackers, fresh fruit and vegetables and cheese are all choice ingredients in a healthy lunch. You can even divvy them into snack-sized portions ahead of time to make for a quick morning grab.
- Offer your child some fun with finger foods. Experiment with a variety of nutritious dips and spreads for their veggies and crackers like yogurt, salsa or humus. Boil an egg that they can peel themselves at lunchtime.
- Keep it petite. Little people enjoy little portions, and children tend to snack through the day, so consider substituting that double-decker hero sandwich for several smaller items.
- Skip the pop and sweetened juices. They're hard on teeth and they take up tummy space. Switching from sugary drinks to water can help protect your kids from cavities and from becoming overweight or obese.
- Consult your kid.There's no better way to ensure they'll eat their lunch than to get their buy-in. Find out what their favourite snacks are, or offer them a couple of choices in the morning. And at the end of the day, ask them what they liked best from their lunch bag.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Back-to-School-A-Healthy-Start
