Smart school lunches for healthy kids (gallery)

Step 1: Ditch the brown bag!

Mike Naples, the CEO of Zone Delivery USA, a leading diet delivery service based on the 40/30/30 radio of carbohydrates, proteins and favorable fats, has compiled some helpful tips for parents on building the best brown bag lunch – starting with tossing the brown bag!, a leading diet delivery service based on the 40/30/30 radio of

 

Step 1: Forget the brown bag

It’s better for the environment. Plus, lunch boxes are sturdier, and insulated lunch bags are the best way to keep food fresh throughout the day. Convince the older kids with retro lunch boxes that will go perfectly with their Wayfarers and Rolling Stones T-shirts.

 

Step 2: Pick Your Protein

Sandwiches can be an excellent source of protein. Branch out from the standards Ham and Cheese and PB&J’s to give the kids something to look forward to. Try substituting cashew or almond butter for a healthy variety, or using leftover chicken or roast beef with light mayo, mustard, lettuce, and a slice of cheese. Also, we all know that substituting wraps for carb-laden slices of bread is a great way to cut back, so introduce this to the kids while they still have an attraction to “tube-shaped” food.

 

Step 3: Substitute Sides

Most kids think their lunch is incomplete without a bag of chips, but the salty processed snack food won’t help them get through the day with enough energy left for soccer practice. Try some healthy alternatives like sending a salad in a small container, packing string cheese with whole grain crackers, making a fruit salad, including dried fruit and nuts, or sending crunchy carrots with a small container of veggie dip.

 

 

Step 4: Skip the Soda 

Many parents pack the lunch and leave a dollar or two or their kids to get a drink in the cafeteria. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP),  drinking too much soda, flavored drinks, or even juice can contribute to cavities, childhood obesity, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. Try freezing a small bottle of water and including it instead – most children don’t drink enough water, and the frozen bottle will help keep the rest of the lunch cold until midday.

 

Step 5: Sweet Stuff 

Most every kid is happy to find a dessert or fun snack from mom!Pay close attention to portion size and consider packing trail mix, dried fruit, granola bars, or low-fat pudding. Home Free chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies are certified as more than 70% organic, kosher, and contain no peanuts, tree nuts, egg and dairy, 

Kopali Organics Supergood Superfoods contain just organic dried foods--without sugar, oil, or sulfites. Offering four varieties of  (Mango, Pineapple, Mulberry and Goldenberry--some dipped in dark chocolate!), the term superfood has been used for more than 90 years to describe food items loaded with beneficial phytochemicals (compounds derived from plants or fruits).