Ideas For Kids' Lunches For School

Provide healthy alternatives for a child's lunch.

The return to school can be an exciting time for both children and parents. Without parental supervision, children can make poor food choices during lunch hour. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2008 19.6% of children between the ages of six and eleven were obese. Help your child make smart choices for lunch at school to help him stay healthy and active.

School-Provided Lunch

Many children eat lunch that is provided by the school. To ensure that you child is making healthy choices, ask her to bring the lunch menu for that week home. Go over the menu with the child and decide what she will choose. Ask at your child's school if the lunch program offers healthy alternatives. for dessert, such as yogurt cups instead of ice cream sandwiches. If not, encourageyour child to skip dessert at least a few days out of the week.

Packing School Lunch

An alternative to school-provided lunch is packing your child a healthy lunch at home. Ask your child to help prepare his own lunch and give him choices so he feels that he is making a contribution. Instead of packing traditional child favorites, such as peanut butter and jelly on white bread with a bag of potato chips, give your child an updated, healthier version. Lean meats, such as turkey or chicken, can be paired with fat free mayonnaise on whole-grain bread.Instead of a bag of salty potato chips, give your child carrot sticks or a bag of apple slices.

Safely Packing School Lunch

If your child is taking a lunch to school, keep in mind that some foods will require special packaging. An ice pack may be required for foods or drinks that may spoil, such as lunch meat or milk. The child may bring soup to school, keeping it warm in an insulated thermos. An insulated lunch bag can also be used in place of small brown paper bags to help keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. This bag should be cleaned out with soap and water after every use to ensure that any spills are cleaned. A packet of wet naps can also be placed inside of the lunch bag to remind your child to wash his hands before and after the meal to cut down on the spread of germs.

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