Do you know what your kids are being served in the school cafeteria? Sure, you read the menu on the school website, but do you know what’s really on the tray?

Visit the school at noon. Check it out. If you don’t like what you see then start packing your child’s lunch. Get your child involved, too.

• Children who eat nutritious lunches tend to concentrate better in school. Children who fill up on sugary snacks or skip lunch altogether tend to become restless or lose focus. Teachers report that students who maintain a steady blood sugar level throughout the day tend to do better in school.
• Children who eat healthfully at lunchtime and throughout the day tend to have better overall health. They tend to be sick less often and when they are sick they recover more quickly. Taking the time to pack a wholesome lunch may take a few extra moments in the morning (or the night before), but it might mean less time spent visiting the doctor’s office.
• Children need nutritious food to grow. Lunch may be just one meal of the day, but your child may be consuming 1/3 of the day’s calories at this time. Packing a nutritious lunch will also ensure that they’re also receiving 1/3 of the day’s nutrients. Pack “growing foods” like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and plant-based sources of protein.
• Children who eat a nutritious lunch are less likely to become obese. Obese children are at higher risk of chronic health issues like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
• Children who eat well tend to maintain a healthy body weight and body image. Children who have a healthy relationship with nourishing food are less likely to use food as a coping or control mechanism, resulting in a lower risk of landing an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.

~ Laptop Lunches newsletter, September 2009

This entry was posted on Friday, September 4th, 2009 at 10:05 am and is filed under Healthy Kids. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.