Building opportunities for fitness as a family is important, and so is healthy eating! School requires a lot of energy and by midday, kids often need a pick-me-up that won't give them an afternoon crash or bore them to tears. With March being National Nutrition Month, here are 10 tips to help you pack a nutritious lunch that will make lunchtime fun and healthy.
Substafruit: Make your child's lunch more nutritious by replacing junk food with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Explore: Pack a healthy dish from a different cuisine once a week to broaden your child's nutritional horizons.
Farmer's Market: Take a family adventure to a farmer's market and give your kids the reins. You'll be surprised at the innovative culinary delights they whip up.
Break the Habit: Instead of packing a soda or sugary juice drink, send your child to school with water or 100 percent fruit juice.
Freshen it up: Avoid pre-packaged foods and incorporate fresh ingredients into your child's diet.
Make a Weekly Lunch Plan: Before the school week, sit down with your kids and plan meals that can be both enjoyable and healthy.
Think Outside the Box: Use cookie cutters to make interesting shapes out of sandwiches.
Grab and Go: To ensure your child eats a variety of whole grains, pack a homemade snack mix that’ll help them avoid the vending machines.
Out with the Old, in with the New: Revisit old favorites by creating healthier renditions. Swap white bread for whole wheat and chips for nuts.
Eat the Rainbow: Introduce foods of every color into your child’s diet. Try packing a different colored fruit or vegetable every day for a week.
*The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a national non-profit founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation to end childhood obesity, offers more tips and tools to help your family stay active at www.HealthierGeneration.org.
