How to Pack Nutritious School Lunches

Subbing in public schools left me, some days with cafeteria duty where I had the "glamorous" job of monitoring rowdy elementary school children as they gobbled down their lunches and chatted with their friends.

Although the job wasn't my favorite assignment, the hours were attractive, as I worked only from 11-2 PM. Besides stopping food wars, I was responsible for sending tables of kids, one at a time, to the snack center after they'd eaten their lunches. Spending time in a number of school lunch rooms, I got an eye-opener of an education, learning just how loaded with sugar and carbohydrates most school lunches are prepared, as well as the snacks offered. No wonder the kids are so hyperactive and have to calmed down for an hour when they return to their classes.

Even some of the kids who brought their lunches had lunch boxes crammed with useless calories of sugary junk food and fatty foods.

With school just around the corner, why not decide to pack your children's lunches this year. This way you have more control over what they eat.

How can you pack a more nutritious lunch that's also good to eat? Here are a few suggestions for concerned moms...

*At the end of the week, prepare a list and have your kids circle foods they prefer for the upcoming week. On the list, include such foods as....

*Broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini strips with pre-packaged low-fat dressing. Contrary to what you make think, typical lunch box foods such as carrots and raisins are loaded with sugar. Better choices are veggie sticks such as zucchini. You can always add some low fat cream cheese for more flavor.

*Ready-to-go tuna. (They come in both regular and no-fat packets.)

*Peanuts and other nuts_---These are always great choices. Not only do kids love them, but they also provide needed protein, and are good for your kids.

*Peanut butter and jelly is still an all-time favorite, as well as nutritious. However, instead of using white bread (loaded with carbs which turns into sugar), substitute whole wheat bread. On the other hand, try Wasa Crackers or Melba Toast crackers.