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Mom Tip: Packing a healthy lunch
Packing your little one's lunch box for school can be easy and fun!
 A healthy lunch has the nutrients and energy children need to grow, learn and play. It usually provides 1/2 to 1/3 of the nutrients and calories children need each day. Parents should aim to hit four to five food groups in your child's lunch, but don't fret...it's easier than you think!
Tips to make lunches healthier include making sandwiches with whole wheat bread, not wheat bread, know the difference between a fruit juice and fruit drink, and make lunches visually appealing (remember you aren't there to make your child actually eat their lunch). Whole wheat bread has the entire wheat kernel and its naturally occurring nutrients while wheat break contains mostly enriched white flour. Fruit Juice is made only from juice from fruit and contains natural vitamins and nutrients. Fruit drinks are made of mainly sugar and water. Mix it up: color, texture, flavors and shapes. Keep serving sizes small, too. A fun way to get your child to eat the sandwich you prepare is to use large cookie cutters! Cut out their favorite dinosaur shape or a beautiful butterfly...cookie cutters can be found at Target, cooking stores or even dollar stores. Also, think about a small something added to their lunch box that will make them smile...maybe a sticker or a picture of something they love!
Examples of lunches that include five food groups are:
1/2 turkey & cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread
baby carrot sticks
100% orange juice box
peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread
banana slices
celery sticks
milk
Remember that as long as you are offering your child healthy food choices every day there is no need to be worried about one particular meal or day. By sitting with your child at regular meal and snack times and being a positive role model for healthy eating they will eventually catch on.
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