Making
nutritious choices at school
Kids today have lots to choose from for lunch—whether they
eat from the cafeteria line, a vending machine or brown bag it.
Parents have the task of either helping their child pack a nutritious
lunch or encouraging their child to make healthy choices at school.
And what a task it is!
The
cafeteria line
Since 1946, the National School Lunch program has made it possible
for schools to serve children wholesome lunches that meet their
nutritional needs.
In most school
districts, meals are regulated by the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
School kitchens are required to plan menus that meet the nutritional
standards of the Food Guide Pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines for
Americans.
Many school
meal programs throughout the country are making great strides in
serving kid-friendly, yet nutritious, meals. By offering students
a variety of healthful choices from all the food groups, schools
are finding that children eat a better balanced meal and also waste
less food.
High
hopes and lunch money
But how can you be sure they are choosing a healthy lunch at school?
You can only hope. And you should try to influence the food choices
your children make. Here are some suggestions:
Become familiar
with the menus offered at your school. School lunch menus are
typically published in school newsletters or local newspapers.
Go over the menu with your child and talk to him or her about
how to make choices in the cafeteria line.
Occasionally
join your son or daughter for lunch at school. Parents are usually
welcome to eat a meal with their child at school if they call
ahead. This will give you a chance to become more familiar with
the school lunch program and the types of food that are served.
Help support
the nutrition education efforts offered by your child’s school.
Find out what your child is learning, and reinforce it at home.
Brown
bagging it
If your child would rather take a brown bag lunch to school, pack
meals that are easy to prepare, fun to eat, healthful, safe and
nutritious. Try veggie pita pockets or soft tacos, raw carrots,
celery or cucumbers, and whole fruit, string cheese or yogurt. They’re
all nutritious, simple to prepare, and easy to eat. It's also okay
to pack a couple of cookies or some chips. Active kids need the
extra energy in these foods. Just remember—foods that have
lots of fat should not be eaten very often.
Be sure to add
an ice pack or frozen juice box if the lunch contains foods that
spoil. Finally, don’t forget milk money. Kids need the calcium
that milk provides for their growing bones.
Giving
kids a say
Giving kids some control over their lunch choices boosts the odds
that they will actually eat. As kids get older, they become more
pick—about their clothes, friends, activities and, yes, food.
Gentle guidance at this age is usually more effective than strict
"you-will-eat-this-or-else" type of rules.
