|
|
Great School Lunches, After-School Snacks :
Aug 25, 2007
If you are worried about your weight AND your child's weight, be sure to check out the new eDiets Trim Kids program. We offer a wealth of information to keep you and your family on the straight and narrow. Click here to learn more. In preparing for "back to school" season, you surely hit more than your fair share of stores in search of new clothes for your ever-growing child, along with a litany of school supplies too numerous to name. Don't forget healthy school lunches and after-school snacks as you plan for the school year. With this in mind, here are a few dietary suggestions on how to assure a happy school day is also a healthy school day: Lean meat, such as shaved ham or turkey, on whole-grain bread or in a wheat wrap with some lettuce, low- or fat-free cheese and a touch of low- or fat-free mayonnaise or mustard is sure to please... and nourish. Even the quintessential children's sandwich PB&J can be made in a healthy way these days. Many peanut butter brands now offer low-fat and low-sodium versions. That, coupled with an all-fruit, sugar-free jelly on whole-grain bread makes this school cafeteria staple a guiltless pleasure. Tuna fish is jam packed with oh-so-beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. When mixed with low-fat mayonnaise, diced apple and, if your child likes, a bit of onion and served in a wheat pita, it's delicious. BLTs can also be healthy ! Simply swap regular bacon for the turkey bacon variety, but eat in moderation because it still has high levels of sodium. Layer with lettuce, tomato and fat-free mayonnaise. Sandwich in whole-grain bread or roll into a pita wrap. Your child will nary know the difference between this healthy version versus its fat-packet counterpart. What to serve on the side of the main school lunch item? Options abound: low-fat pretzels, fat- and sugar-free yogurt or cottage cheese, celery sticks filed with low-fat and low-sodium peanut butter, any kind of pre-washed fresh fruit, dried or dehydrated fruit: raisins; apricots, pears, apples, roasted or raw almonds, walnuts or peanuts (not oiled or candied), low-fat string cheese or chunked low-fat cheese, and even baked chips or healthy pita chips in moderation. Skip the sugary juice box and send along a bottle of water to get your child in the habit of working toward his/her optimal fluid intake (experts recommend one consume about .5 ounces of water per pound of body weight).
Continue reading »
|
