Ah yes, school lunches. So innocent and unassuming, yet so daunting a challenge for the mom who actually cares what her child is eating. The wise mother must strike that delicate balance between her ideal healthy lunch and what her child will actually eat when she is not there. School lunches are generally filled with fats and highly processed foods. It will take an extremely unique child to turn their noses up at school pizza and french fries in favor of a whole wheat sandwich, raw veggies and a nice apple.

In all fairness it isn't always about what a child would normally eat at home, a parent should also consider the social implications of certain foods. My son loves hard boiled eggs. They seemed like the ideal traveling food for his brown bag. Unfortunately the apparent odor that traveled from his freshly peeled egg let everyone in his vicinity know what he was eating. Not a pleasant moment for a young man in a high school cafeteria. I have also discovered that broccoli can have a similar effect when its zip-lock is opened. A sense of humor and persistence is helpful to overcome those moments of culinary tragedy.

Apparently my son's friends have taken to gathering around him in fascination as he unveils the contents of the day's new brown bag. In an effort to save money and to increase the nutritional value of common prepackaged foods, I have often created homemade versions. Some have been successful and some have not. Interestingly enough, often those foods that Jude chooses not to try, his friends snatch up and devour. He has complained that at this point he has to eat anything new first and quickly, before his friends can grab it. Though I want the boy to eat, I must say that those stories make me smile.

My son's average lunch consists of sandwich type item, a fruit or veggie, some chips and a "dessert". Now this basic arrangement can get very interesting depending on the time I have and the mood I am in. Often I make homemade bread for sandwiches with the bread maker. I have been known to throw all kinds of interesting extras in the bread mix. Carrot and apple pulp from the juicer, nuts, seeds and dried fruit, just to name a few. Desserts are usually homemade muffins, protein bars or cookies. I try very hard to keep these as healthy as possible with natural sweeteners and whole wheat flour. Fruit and veggies I leave as simple as possible and chips are usually just whatever he likes. I recommend taking the basics and pumping them up. It is usually a mistake to try and send exotic entrees and sauces to school with your child. Your efforts will likely end up in the trash and your child will be eating their friend's leftovers.

Also remember to send some extra healthy snacks, if your school allows for this, to curb those junk food cravings and sugar lows through the day. Many schools have vending machines available with unhealthy snacks and sodas readily available. Your child will have a much better chance of resisting these temptations if they already have a better choice in their bag.

The most important ingredient in your child's lunch is communication. Find out what they like. Let them know why it is important to you that they eat the right foods and get their approval ahead of time for any new items or items that they might not like. Save yourself the hassle and the waste of preparing a beautiful lunch that your child won't touch. With communication and preparation ahead of time you can give your child the best opportunity for eating well and living well.

Learn more about this author, Cherisse Mccoy.
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