What's In Your Lunchbox?

Happy first week of school to most of the families in the D.C. area!

Back to school time is the perfect opportunity to speak to your children about healthy food choices.

Buying lunch at school may be the first time that kids get to call the shots on which foods they'll eat. Luckily, there’s been a nationwide effort to improve the taste and nutrition levels in school lunches.  But, some food options served at school are still exceeding recommendations for fat. In the typical school cafeteria, kids can still choose an unhealthy mix of foods, especially the less nutritious fare often available a la carte or in the vending machine.

If your child will choose an item from the lunch line, encourage him or her to make good choices by incorporating fruits and veggies and trying a variety of foods.  (Chicken nuggets may be tasty, but eating them each day won’t give your child an opportunity to try new foods that he/she may love.)

If your child will brown bag it, enlist your child’s help to make lunch!  Treat this bonding moment as a chance to instill healthy food choices in your child while having fun making creative fare.  Does your child love “Toy Story”?  Make cucumber slices that look like aliens.  Does your child like flowers?  Make a PB & J sandwich on wheat bread that is shaped like a daisy.

Your imaginations are your only limits!

Begin the school year by reminding children that food can be fun while being nutritious!

What are your children’s favorite healthy lunches?  I’d love to hear from you.

Visit www.FitnessForHealth.org to learn how Fitness for Health can help you create a fitness plan customized to assist you in reaching your personal goals.