Let’s face it, obesity rates in U.S. children keep increasing and it is our responsibility as adults to take action and help educate our children on ways to eat right and ways to stay active.

Obesity is being targeted as one of the only major reasons for adverse health effects. It leads to severe health problems and in addition to this, it also reduces life expectancy. 

According to one study conducted by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, they found that obesity rates in children are now as much of a concern for parents as is the risk of drug abuse.

When the kids are at school, it is out of your hands whether or not they are getting exercise, but one thing you can control is what they eat for lunch.

Lunch is not the time for kids to sit down and over-indulge in a fried chicken sandwich along with an order of cheese fries and a large soda from the lunch cafeteria.  Lunch is a time to socialize and eat a nutrious meal that will give them energy and brain power to make it through the rest of the school day.

Think about it, after lunch these kids go right back to the classroom and sit in their chairs for the remainder of the day and all that food they just consumed just sits there and stores as fat.

That is why packing them a healthy lunch every day will not only educate them on healthy foods but will also help teach them about portion control.  So, what are you packing in your child’s lunchbox?

Food to Avoid

• Fried food
• Heavy bread
• A lunch full of snack foods (even if they are 100 calorie packs)
  • Oreos
  • Snickers
  • Scooby Snacks
• Candy
• Soda Pop- even diet soda!
• Leftovers

Foods to Include

• Make their sandwich with whole grain wheat bread rather than white bread
• Wrap sandwiches- helps avoid using bread all together
  • Grilled chicken wrap
  • Turkey wrap
• If you are going to pack chips- go for the baked chips
• An alternative for chips; unbuttered popcorn
• Veggie sticks; carrots, celery, etc.

Snacks

• String cheese (go for the 2%)
• Low-fat yogurt
• Trail mix
• Raisins
• Dried fruits

*All are full of protein and calcium*

Even though you might be packing your kids a healthy lunch in reality if they don’t like what you packed they probably won’t eat it. 

Follow these tips on ways to know they like what you are packing;

• Include the kids while making their lunches- this is a great way to educate them and to get them excited as to why you want to pack celery in their lunches.
• Always do a variety- try not to pack the same lunch twice in one week.  You have to keep their lunch fresh and exciting.
• Keep it simple- most school lunch breaks don’t go pass 20 minutes.  Make their lunch simple to assemble and eat.
• Make it special- include a little note in their lunch box letting them know how proud of them you are or even something as simple as enjoy your lunch!
  • You could even include a fun fact related to something that you packed.  For example; Eating carrots help give you good eye sight.
• Include one special treat per week- maybe throw in  a piece of dark chocolate or even a mini fruit snack.
• Have a routine- plan out their lunches for the week on Sunday, let them help you create it, that way they will look forward to certain days of the week because they know what they are going to eat.

For more healthy lunch packing tips, visit; http://www.healthychild.com/healthy-school-lunches/packing-a-healthy-lunch-box-for-school/

Hopefully some of these tips will help open the bag to a healthier lunch.

Sources:

http://www.thirdage.com/news/obesity-concerns-in-children-rank-as-high-as-drug-abuse_08-20-2011

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/unhealthy-school-lunches.html

http://www.ehow.com/info_8007522_tips-packing-school-lunches.html

http://www.ehow.com/info_8066940_ideas-pack-school-lunches.html