by MiLa Driver

Created on: February 11, 2008

WHAT'S FOR LUNCH,MOM?

Children always look forward to lunchtime for some reason.Perhaps it's because they can interact with their buddies during this time and not worry about paying attention!It is very important for children to actually eat their lunch at this time since this will provide them with the added energy they will need to conquer the rest of their day. Unfortunately,

sometimes children do not like what is being served in the school cafeteria and consequently they end up going the rest of the day on an empty stomach.So what's the alternative? Packing their lunch,obviously!

No one knows your child better than you do.Pack him a healthy lunch with things you know he likes to eat.But avoid some of the traps of convenient yet unhealthy food.This would include anything that is prepackaged in a box such as Lunchables or juice that is loaded with sugar. It is better to plan ahead with your child and decide what type of things he would like to see in his lunch box.Of course, it is your job to gently guide him into selecting things that are healthy for him.Following are a few suggestions for lunch-box food.

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES
Almost every kid likes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.Make it a bit healthier by buying peanut butter and jelly with reduced sugar.Your child will probably not even notice that the spreads on his sandwich are the healthier version.

UNSWEETENED APPLESAUCE
For heaven's sake,if you pack applesauce,make it the unsweetened kind.There is no reason for children to eat extra sugar when unnecessary.

FRUIT
Children are more likely to eat fruit if it has been cut up or peeled.Cut an apple in slices or peel an orange and take it apart. Put them in a ziploc bag.

VEGETABLES
Baby carrots are always a good choice because they are sweet.Another good choice is cherry tomatoes.Make sure you cut the cherry tomatoes in half to avoid any choking hazards.

SEEDS/NUTS
Most children like to eat shelled peanuts,sunflower seeds,pumpkin seeds or almonds.These are full of protein and are good for your health when eaten in moderation.

JUICE
It's okay to pack juice in their lunch boxes;just make sure it is unsweetened and 100% fruit juice.Otherwise,you run the risk of giving your child sugared water with flavoring.Not good.

TORTILLA SPIRALS
These are fun to eat!Simply grab a whole wheat tortilla,add a slice of ham or turkey,and some cheese.Roll tightly.Cut in slices so that each piece looks like a spiral!

GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES
This is also a very popular choice.Toast two pieces of whole wheat bread,butter,and place a slice of cheese between the two slices.Wrap in a paper towel and then put in a baggie. Wrapping it in a paper towel keeps it a little crispier.

You want to make sure that your child is eating lunch at school,but you also want to know that he is doing so in a healthy way.The only way to ensure both is to pack his lunch yourself.Get your child to help you pack his lunch the night before,and he will be more likely to eat it if he helped prepare it.By the way,you might want to pack some of the above choices for your own lunches!

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