School Lunch: Health School Lunch Options
School
lunches :
have
traditionally been things like sandwiches and chips, but with recent
information about just how overweight young children are, you may be looking
for a way to improve the quality of your child's school lunch. If you haven't done so, take the time to look
at what is offered in your school's hot lunch program, if it offers one. These
lunches, too, may be not very healthy for your child. They may have many calories, greasy foods and
less than nutritious meals. What can you
do? Learn to pack a health school lunch
instead.
may interest you College Testing: Preparing For College Standardized Tests
Cost
Is Not The Problem
As soon
as you start to see the options you can have for your child's health school
lunch you will also notice that the foods are not expensive, prepackaged foods.
Healthy foods are the most natural of foods.
They are nutrient rich because they are naturally grown and not
processed. For anyone who is looking for a way to cut the cost of school
lunches, switching to a healthier bagged
lunch is a good place to start.
Your child's lunch can be packed with flavor, be something they enjoy
and still be healthy and within your budget.
may interest you Home Improvement Grants of the Vale Royal Borough Council
Back
To School
Taking
the time to pack a healthy school lunch for your child starts by going back to
your own school education. For most
parents, the food pyramid will come to mind (though this chart has changed
considerably over the last few year.)
The goal is to provide your child with food from at least several of the
major food groups so that they gain the nutrition they need. Choosing foods from several food groups
encourages healthy balanced eating and provides them with the ability to stay
active, healthy and even sharp throughout the school day.
Whole
Grains
Whole
grains should be the stable in your child's diet since processed white breads
can actually be causing them weight problems. Whole grains are available in any
form as long as they say "whole" grain on the packaging. A good option here is to use whole grain
breads for any sandwiches you make for the child. You can also give them foods beyond the
sandwich such as purchasing whole grain tortillas and pitas for use in making
their lunch.
Fruits
Putting
fruits into your child's lunch is a good way to give them nutrition while still
giving them something that is sweet.
Virtually any type of fruit can work well in your child’s diet. You may even want to try some new options to
get their taste buds learning something new.
Good options include blueberries, grapes, kiwi, apples, organs, mangoes,
prunes, raisins, strawberries, plums and nectarines. Give them a container with halves in them or
give them dried fruit. Both options are
a good way to get nutrients into your child.
may interest you HOW TO REORGANIZE YOUR TIME TO ACCOMMODATE A HOME-BASED BUSINESS
Vegetables
Vegetables
contains most of the antioxidants your child needs to continue on a healthy
lifestyle. Make sure that their lunch contains vegetables of all types
including items like carrots, bell pepper slices, broccoli, lettuce (a homemade
salad can incorporate many of these ingredients) beets, mushrooms, and
cucumbers.
In
The Bread
To make a
sandwich, tortilla or pita using your whole grain bread, add a variety of
fillings that they enjoy. Good options
include chicken or chicken salad, egg salad, mashed banana, peanut butter,
cream cheese, hummus, jams, smoked salmon and avocado. Be as unique as you
like. You do not have to include sodium
filled lunch meats if you do not wish to.
Treats
Having
something tasty in their lunch will also help them to enjoy it. Include things like apple crisps, trail mix,
yogurt, popcorn, fruit bars, dried fruits, baked chips with salsa or homemade
cookies.
School
lunches may seem boring and dull, but making them healthy can also give your
child more options. If they have not
tried some of these foods in the past, now is the perfect time to help
them. Before school starts, start
preparing these types of healthy choices for your child for lunch. You may find that they are very interested in
some and have developed new tastes. They
are sure not to miss that greasy pizza when they have something tasty to eat in
their healthy school lunch.
may interest you Home Water Treatment and Boiling Water Treatment
With my best wishes