Nutrition Matters
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A column by Raina Childers, MS, RD, LD
Director of Nutritional Services at
HealthPoint Plaza in Cape Girardeau
Check out these other columns
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A Lunch from Home
For many of us it is time to get adjusted to new schedules as summer winds down and a school year begins! A common concern when sending children off to school is the quality of the food they eat while they are away. The good news is that most school systems are providing better quality lunch choices. The bad news is that no meal is a good meal unless it gets eaten and many kids don’t eat well at school.
Although we are very busy, the option of sending a lunch from home can prove to be another way to encourage healthy eating. Here are some tips that can help:
- Include the kids in planning, shopping and preparing lunches when possible.
- Mix it up! Try not to have the same thing every day. Keep a variety of fruits and snacks on hand.
- Switch it up! Try different types of breads for sandwiches, switching between wheat, raisin bread, English muffins, tortillas, rolls, etc.
- Get creative! Cut sandwiches differently. For younger kids use cookie cutters for fun and different shapes.
- Milk vs. fruit juice- Even if you pack a lunch every day, let your child buy milk for lunch. Encourage them to choose skim, 1% or 2%, even if it’s chocolate.
- Moderation, moderation, moderation! Chips and cookies are ok in moderation, but if your child is going to have them for lunch, make sure their afternoon snack is a fruit or veggie.
- Remember it’s lunch, not brain surgery. Simple combinations can be tasty, healthy and schedule friendly.
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