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Fun, Filling, But Not Fattening
The Skinny on Making Your Kids a Great School Lunch
Once it's time to start getting kids ready for the school year, parents are often challenged with how to ensure their children eat healthy lunches that don't pack on the pounds while they are there. This presents a definite dilemma given that a large number of children and teens today are overweight, putting them at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and, ultimately, heart disease.
"The percentage of obese children has nearly doubled in the last 20 years," says Netty Levine, a registered dietitian at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif. "And given that kids spend most of their day in school, the only way you can ensure that that they're going to eat healthfully is to help them pack a lunch from home."
Although schools have improved the nutritional value of lunches in the last decade, the meals still contain more fat than the government recommends. Further, many schools have added vending machines and a la carte programs, which do not have to meet the nutritional standards set by the U.S. government.
"Given these temptations, it can be a challenge for parents to provide food choices that kids will want to eat," Levine says. "That's why I suggest involving children in helping to prepare their lunch. It can be fun and teaches them how to choose foods that are tasty and low in fat."
1. Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast. Eating prior to going to school will help kids from being too hungry before lunch, so that they want to eat more. "Make sure your kids have enough time to get ready for school and eat breakfast," Levine says. "A quick breakfast can be a bowl of a low-sugar cereal, such as oatmeal or Cheerios and fresh fruit."
