Packing nutrients into your kid’s lunch box?

As kids head back to school, many parents will be scrambling for ideas for easy-bagged lunches. (Below are ideas for you to chew on!) Keep in mind, adequate nutrition is vital to keep your kids’ growth and health on track. Children’s growing bodies need more nutrients than adults, but their diets shouldn’t provide excessive calories and cause them to gain an inappropriate amount of weight.

Overall lunches should consist of, about 50-60% of a child’s calories from carbohydrate sources, 25-35% of calories should come from fat, and the rest (10-15% of calories) should come from protein. Just like the diets of all family members, children’s diets should include plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean protein sources, low fat dairy products, whole grains and healthy fats.

This year, think outside of the box. Lunch can be more than a sandwich. Have a recipe? Post it below, other parents would love to know!

A Weeks Menu

Monday: Organic chicken salad with whole-wheat crackers for dipping, plus baby carrots and a package of string cheese.

Tuesday: Tortilla wrap of organic turkey breast, Swiss cheese, plus cherry tomatoes, a bag of pretzels and a tangerine.

Wednesday: Three mini whole grain bagels filled with Canadian bacon and low-fat cream cheese, plus broccoli, a bag of popcorn and a cluster of grapes.

Thursday: Organic tuna salad with bread sticks for dipping, plus zucchini sticks, a packet of dry-roasted nuts and a half-cup of blueberries.

Friday: Whole grain pita bread stuffed with low-fat cheddar cheese and cucumber slices, plus some oat squares and a serving of pineapple chunks.

Many schools are signing on to the Farm to School Movement (http://www.farmtoschool.org). These programs connect schools with local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing health and nutrition education opportunities that will last a lifetime, and supporting local small farmers. If you want the nutritious foods for your kids, Farm to School would be happy to orchestrate it with you!!

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