School Lunches the Nutritious Way
Think back to the days of old. The delight of playing during outdoor recess, the chatter of children during P.E. class and the wonderful smells of the stale cafeteria. It sure brings back memories doesn’t it?
Whether you are currently a student, a mom of a student, a teacher or even a woman who packs a lunch for the office, it can become daunting day after day when preparing the same concoctions. There is the occasional left over dish to make use of or pre-packaged meals that you can quickly snag at the grocery store but in doing so have you found yourself fighting the thought “well shouldn’t I be eating something healthier than this?” Do you ever find yourself trapped for ideas when it comes to prepping your kids’ or even your own lunches?
In this day and age, the changes in regulations for school foods and special dietary needs of our youngsters are of major concern. Many schools are adopting a strict "no tree nut policy" – standing for every classroom and area around the school.
According to Food Allergy Research and Education, these eight food allergens: milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and crustacean shellfish are responsible for most of the serious food allergy reactions in the United States. It is estimated that 5.9 million children under age 18 have a food allergy which is about 1 in 13 children, or roughly two in every classroom. (1)
Because so many of our little ones today have food restrictions it can get tricky to pack lunches that are, both, healthy and safe! A simple online search will show a list of companies who abide by strict allergen-free manufacturing which is a huge help. But what about the rest?
The building blocks of a nutritious lunch are simple when staying in these main categories:
Main
Sweet
Salty
Fruit
Veggie
Dip
A few tips:
At the beginning of each week, work to create a list using these main groups…brainstorming healthy and simple foods that fit into each category. And the best part about keeping it consistent (besides the ease of planning) is that your child may be able to help out! Maybe he/she can provide suggestions.
Another tip, shared by a well-seasoned mom, is to prepackage dry good snacks after each grocery trip. Place a basket in the pantry at a height that your child is able to reach. You might also try this with vegetables and fruits, prepping at the beginning of the week and keeping in a special drawer in the refrigerator. When it’s time for snacking or lunch packing, you’ve already eliminated a few preparation steps!
By choosing nutritious and fun items for each group, lunch time will surely become the highlight of the day.
What’s Next?
Visit the Aspen Wellness Pinterest boards or our Aspen Wellness Resources to download the entire “Nutritious School Lunches” guide!
References:
“Facts and Statistics.” Food Allergy Research & Education, www.foodallergy.org/life-food-allergies/food-allergy-101/facts-and-statistics.