School Lunches

If you’re packing lunches for young children, here are some ideas that may prevent them from trading away their healthy snacks or opting for vending machine food instead.

• Involve children in lunch preparations and let them choose their own healthful snacks. Children who help make their lunches are most likely to eat them.
• Find out what your kids would like to eat at lunchtime to prevent trading.
• Don’t worry if they request the same foods. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a common healthy favorite. Provide different snacks foods for variety.
• Decorate lunch bags with colorful stickers, use special napkins or include a funny note. Your child will look forward to a packed lunch that includes a special surprise.

When packing a lunch is not an option, review school lunch menus and allow children to plan which days they’d like to buy lunch. Help them pick items with the greatest nutritional value and pack a healthful snack such as granola bars or yogurt to get them through the afternoon.