Pack the perfect lunch to keep kids healthy

Each school year the ritual of packing lunches continues. Even "supermoms" can find packing a fun and nutritious lunch a daunting challenge. It’s not uncommon for parents to spend a great deal of time and thought into packing lunch for their children only to find out later that some or all of it ended up in the trash. Adding a bit of excitement and variety to a child’s lunchbox each day makes it more fun for a child to eat the nutritious foods you pack. Here are some tips to make those bland bagged lunches more fun:

Create a theme for the week. Each week before you grocery shop, discuss with your children what they would like their "lunch theme" to be. Themes could include various ethnic or regional foods such as Italian or Hawaiian. Themes could also be as simple as a color (all red foods) or correspond to your children’s current classroom subject matter. No matter what the theme, always make sure to include fruits and vegetables.

Think outside the lunchbox. Add a little variety to your child’s lunch. A sandwich doesn’t always have to be the main course. Instead, include soup in a thermos or a fresh garden salad. Fruit, vegetable and cheese kabobs, along with dressing or yogurt dip are another healthful option.

Personalize your child’s lunch. Include a handwritten note, a funny cartoon or a joke. Get your child involved in the lunch-packing process. Let him jazz up his lunch by decorating his lunchbox and baggies with favorite stickers.

Putting a little extra thought into your children’s lunch increases the chances of their eating all the great foods that you pack and getting the nutrition they need.

This story provided by North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.