|
 She’s
not leaving the house in that skirt. He’s not playing on
the football team if his grade average drops below a C. And no
one, but no one, is going to have potato chips or chocolate cupcakes
for lunch.
No matter how harmonious your
relationship with your kids may be, packing their lunches can
be a battle. You can avoid the conflict, however, by serving
foods that satisfy kids’ craving for yummy and parent’s
desire for healthy.
“Parents want to provide
healthy meals and snack options for their children, and school
lunch boxes are a great place to start,” says Dr. Julie
Jones, a licensed nutritionist and national nutritional advisor
who works with California Raisins. “Whether you challenge
kids to eat all the colors of the rainbow in fruits and veggies,
or prepare an old favorite with a new twist, such as apple slices
or mini-bagels with California Raisin Peanut Butter Spread, eating
healthy can be fun and delicious.”
To avoid the lunch box blahs,
California Raisins – with the help of Jones and registered
dietitian/nutrition expert, Mary Lee Chin – have compiled
a list of tips for ensuring kids’ stomachs stay full and
lunch boxes come home empty.
- Avoid bread boredom. Think variety
when “sandwiching” your school lunches. Instead of
plain, white bread, try whole grain raisin bread, pita bread,
whole wheat tortillas for wraps, whole grain rolls, mini-bagels
or flavored bagels.
- Remember, eating is visual too.
A soggy peanut butter sandwich with grape jelly soaking through
is not very visually appealing. Kids often find pre-packaged
items – that travel well and maintain their good looks –
more enticing. Try single-serve applesauce or other canned fruits,
string cheese, snack-sized California raisins or a carton of
yogurt.
- Introduce new foods with a health
serving of fun. Talk frankly with your kids about the variety
of healthful foods they have to choose from, and on the first
try serve smaller portions. For example, introduce hummus with
pretzels or celery sticks to dip.
- Encourage kids to be involved
in preparation and selection of new, healthful foods. For younger
kids, it is fun to create a fruit and vegetable bingo board.
If your child packs and eats a particular fruit and vegetable,
he or she can put a sticker on the bingo board. Once “bingo”
is achieved, the child receives an agreed-upon prize - such as
a walk to the park, a favorite game, or a special activity with
a parent.
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