Healthy Lunch Alternatives for Your Child

Breakfast is paramount to fuel your body to start your day. But what about lunch? Lunch is just as important! Lunch refuels our bodies and replace nutrients so we can continue to work effectively and efficiently. And the more energy we expend throughout our day, the more vital it becomes to restock valuable ingredients required for continued stamina. Lunch box lunches are an easy way to provide healthy school lunches!

According to the 1996 School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children, many lunches provided by schools must adhere to health guidelines, by providing more nutritious alternatives. And yet, many kids still find their way to the junk food!Though we can never be sure our kids are getting enough of the good stuff, there are ways to increase the odds!

Lunch menus are routinely given to make it easier to plan food choices. If you are not satisfied with the cafeteria's choices, get involved with the parent-teacher group and discuss alternatives. For example, vending machine choices leave much to be desired in the nutrition department - but there are healthier options! Instead of offering potato chips, candy bars and ice cream, stock machines with baked chips and popcorn, granola bars and trail mix, and pure fruit popsicles or frozen yogurt!

But, regardless of healthy options of school lunches, sometimes it is necessary to pack your own - or perhaps, you simply prefer to! This is still no guarantee your child will eat nutritiously, but getting them involved may help! When children are involved in decision-making and preparation, they are more likely to eat it!

Packing a nutritious lunch does not have to cast fear into your heart if you know the basics of a balanced diet! First, start with carbohydrates, such as wholegrain breads, rice, beans and pasta. Complex carbs are the best source of energy for growing bodies and 55-60% of kid' daily calorie intake should be from carbohydrates.