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Four Easy Ways to Make School Lunches Fun
 
October 17, 2008

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Parents everywhere are busy helping with homework and making sure they are providing lunches that are both nutritious and appetizing for kids.

In a perfect world, lunches would be pre-packed the night before and full of healthful fruits and vegetables that kids would be excited to eat. The reality is that most parents are pressed for time and often send their kids to school with less-than-healthy food options. Those who do pack a healthy lunch are often also met with a challenge, as many kids would rather visit the school vending machine than eat fruits and vegetables during mealtime.

While eating at the cafeteria is OK if healthy choices are available, many school-aged children today are not getting the nutrients they need. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the amount of overweight children has more than doubled in the past 20 years, up from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 17 percent in 2006. Packing a healthy and tasty lunch for kids could be one way to help cut down on this alarming number.

Parents who are looking for easy ways to put together nutritious lunches fast should consider the following tips:
  1. Get Kids Involved – One easy way to get kids excited about eating healthy is to get them involved in the process. Try taking them to the grocery store and letting them pick out healthy foods they like. Then, ask them to help pack their lunches the night before a busy school day. This can help cut down on kids eating less healthy options at school, since they were a part of the decision-making process. Adding kid-friendly foods like Artichokes to your menu can also help get kids excited about eating healthy. Artichokes are a kid favorite because they can be eaten with the hands. When making Artichokes for mealtime, let your kids have half for dinner and half for lunch the next day. You’ll save time and provide a healthy lunch or school snack!
  2. Plan Ahead – Most parents are busy, so finding the time to pack a lunch each day can be difficult. Sometimes it may seem easier to turn to junk food or send the kids off to school with money to purchase lunch at the school cafeteria. Cut down on the last-minute lunch scramble by being prepared. Make a list each week that details what you will include in your kids’ lunches and stick to it. Planning ahead will make it easier for you to feel less stressed about preparing healthy meals and snacks.
  3. Think Healthy – It is no surprise that kids eat unhealthy foods at school, especially when lunch menus often consist of high-fat options like pizzas and chips. Instead of packing processed food, choose healthier snacks that will keep your kids going like lettuce pockets filled with fresh veggies. You can also try adding some peanut butter to a sliced apple or Celery, or include a pack of yummy trail mix. Check out our recipe for Artichoke Hummus, which can be deliciously paired with fresh veggies or low-fat pita chips.
  4. Keep Things Safe – Packing leftovers is an easy way to save time and money on back-to-school lunches. Make sure to always refrigerate lunches the night before and never leave perishable items at room temperature for more than two hours. For a space-saving solution to lunches that need ice packs, freeze a juice box or water bottle the night before. This will give kids a cool lunchtime drink, while also keeping food cold and safe enough to eat.
For more ideas that you can include in your kids’ school lunches, visit Ocean Mist Farms’ online recipes, which provide step-to-step instructions on how to make great meals using Artichokes and other vegetables.

Sources: www.cdc.gov, www.cbc.ca, www.marketwatch.com, www.kidshealth.org
 
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