It happens every day of the week. Your children are inundated with pizza, fries and pre-packaged burgers as soon as they walk into the school cafeteria—not to mention the soda, chips and candy available a few steps away in machines.
I can remember when it was “cool” to buy cherry Jolly Ranchers out of the machine at school. My friend (who we thought was cool) would buy a small basket of french fries and call that her lunch. Of course, what was hip then—isn’t so smart now. That same girl is now an overweight, middle-aged woman.
Today, kids are making better choices, with the help of schools and parents. Studies have shown that small changes are yielding a dramatic impact. Some schools only have water, juice and milk in vending machines. Snacks under 200 calories are offered during breaks. In math classes, students learn about nutrition and portion control, and they calculate calories based on serving sizes.
Kids who eat healthier also learn that they experience fewer headaches and stomach aches. So, what suggestions can you give your kids so they can follow through with eating a healthier lunch at school?
• Campaign to make healthy foods COOL. Your PTO could plan a contest by encouraging kids to create a poster about this theme, and the one selected would be professionally printed and distributed throughout the school. There could also be a contest (with prizes) awarding those who bring the most creative, healthy lunch.
• Have kids try a new food at home, and then let them take it to school. My daughter proclaimed, once she tasted them, that edamame pods were her “new french fries.” She took them to school and wowed her friends. Now they like these tasty soybeans, too!
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Plan ahead and have kids pack their lunch the night before. Suggestions include: peanut butter and jelly on whole grain bread and an apple; tuna salad or turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato and baked potato chips. Extras: baby carrots and hummus, peanut butter/honey and celery, and yogurt.
Making healthy foods COOL is just one step towards a great lifestyle. Consuming unhealthy foods once awhile is okay, but eating foods the way nature provided to us is WAY COOLER!
Submitted by Springfield Moms reader Linda Castor, RN, LCPC. Linda is a nurse and therapist who specializes in wellness and several areas of psychotherapy at Clocktower Therapy Center . You can reach Linda Castor at her website here.
