Fall is finally here! Cheers to getting back into routine and starting off this "new" chapter on a healthy note. I put together some of my tips for great back-to-school lunches in my latest article for Anton Newspapers/Long Island Weekly. Check out an excerpt from the article below!
School supplies—check. Outfit—check. Back-to-school lunch game plan—check.
Teaching children about food and nutrition from a young age is crucial towards their health and well-being. A healthy diet can help children concentrate and learn at school, while also reducing their risk of developing obesity in years to come. Let’s commit to starting off the school year right and packing healthier lunchboxes for our kids.
Here are a few simple tips that can make healthy lunches fun and nutritious:
Healthy Bento-Box Style Lunch
Purchase a bento-box style reusable container that has separate compartments for food. Make sure the container is dishwasher-safe, durable, and made with non-toxic materials.
Start with a lean protein such as rolled up turkey slices or Babybel cheese wheels. Next, add a complex carbohydrate like seed crackers or rice cakes. Fill one compartment up with your child’s favorite veggie, such as baby carrots, sugar snap peas, sliced cucumbers or tomatoes. Then, include one serving of fruit such as a mandarin orange, apple slices, berries or a few grapes. Last but not least, add one “fun” food such as a piece of fun-size candy or a few animal crackers. This will ensure that all of the food groups are covered in an enticing way.
Get Creative With Presentation
When it comes to lunch, kids tend to like a lot of variety since they can get bored with food easily. Sometimes, just changing the presentation of food can be enough to entice your child to eat a healthy lunch. Try using a cookie cutter to create fun shapes with...
Read the full article here:
In good health,
Stef