Healthy Lunches

Posted by Holly Nelson on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 Under: Tip of the Week

It's back to school time. I have been constantly thinking about healthy lunch ideas for the boys. Nutrition is very important to me. They are only young once and good eating habits form when they are young. I do not keep "junk" in the house. This is for many reasons. One, because it is gone in a matter of seconds, they are on to eat something else, and that was a waste of money. And two, because it's just not good for their bodies to eat everyday. I do buy "junk" every once in a while. And when we go out I let them eat popcorn, candy, nachos, corndogs, fast food, etc... I do not completely keep indulgences away from them. Every once and a while is fine. Just not every day. When I pack their lunches for school I keep the kids food pyramid in mind. Grain, meat or protein, dairy, vegetable, and fruit. Here is a food guide for your kids.

Grain Group - 6 Servings

1 slice bread

1/2 cup cooked cereal such as Cream of Wheat or oatmeal

1/2 cup cooked rice or pasta

1 ounce of dry cereal

Meat Group -2 Servings

2-3 ounces f cooked lean meat, including beef, poultry, pork & fish

1/2 cup of cooked beans or lentils

1 egg (is equal to 1 ounce of lean meat)

2 Tablespoons of peanut butter

Dairy Group - 2 servings

1 cup of milk

1 cup of yogurt

2 ounces of REAL cheese (not cheese food)

Vegetable Group - 3 Servings

1/2 cup of chopped raw vegetables

1/2 cup of cooked vegetables

1 cup of raw, leafy vegetables

Fruit Group- 2 Servings

1 piece of fruit

1/4 cup of dried fruit

1/2 cup of canned fruit

3/4 cup of juice

Fat
keep minimal, but a little fat is needed in their diet.

Here are a few more links for school lunches. My Favorite is the laptop lunches website. They have great ideas for healthy lunches. I loved looking at all of the pictures of the lunches people have sent in. This is the second school year I have used laptop lunches. I love them. One of my sons asked for a regular lunch box the other day. As soon as he got home he said he wanted the laptop back! They are wonderful!!

http://www.dietbites.com/Pyramid-Diet/childrens-food-pyramid.html

http://www.laptoplunches.com/ideas.html

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/kids/feature/famf010501_fflunch/famf010501_fflunch.html

http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/baglunches.htm

http://www.thatsmyhome.com/recipes-for-kids/index.htm

http://teachertipstraining.suite101.com/article.cfm/school_lunch_ideas

http://www.kidapprovedmeals.com/

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