Healthy Changes For Your Family: Pack Your Kids' Lunches

What's in the typical school lunch?  If you think that the school cafeteria is serving your child something nutritious, think again.  While some might say that the school lunch program has improved over the years, the typical school lunch still is a high fat, caloric, low nutrient meal on a styrofoam tray which will ultimately end up in a landfill.  When faced with french fries vs. carrot sticks, I can't think of many 2nd graders who would turn down the fries.  What to do?

• Try packing lunch most days.  Make a sandwich on 100% whole wheat bread  with peanut butter or cheese (organic ingredients are best), fruit slices, veggies and a snack or home baked cookie. Include a reusable water bottle or organic milk box.  Cut down on waste by using a reusable lunch bag and containers like those sold by snacktaxi.com.  Include your child in the grocery shopping and prep so they feel part of the process and excited about lunch.
• When short on time provide lunch from a restaurant that has healthy options like a veggie sub from Subway or a salad from Panera.
• An occasional cafeteria meal is fine.  Talk about the menu with your child and how to make healthy decisions within the options available.  Encourage salad bars and limit dressing & cheeses, choose fresh fruit and whole grain options.  Avoid fruit juices and sweetened teas which are full of sugar and empty calories.
• Make lunch fun.  Include a note or special cloth napkin which will remind your child that you are thinking of them in the middle of the day.  Maybe give your child some money to purchase a treat to go along with their packed lunch.

I am still hopeful that one day the school lunch program will improve and become a place where kids are consuming delicious & nutritious meals.   Unfortunately this is an economic problem where limited budgets make serving fruits & vegetables almost impossible.  In Marin County, California there is an organization called the Marin Organic Glean Team  which harvests surplus vegetables from organic farms and provides them to schools and community centers.  Bringing these vegetables into school lunches can dramatically change the menus.  Additionally many schools have started school gardens and have incorporated their own harvest into the meal plans.