Well - Summer 2014 - (Page 12)

NUTRITION Lunch Is Served How to make school lunches healthier T 1 Discuss the menu. If your children buy lunch in the school cafeteria, review the menu together ahead of time. Discuss which foods are healthier and come to an agreement about which to choose. For example, encourage a fruit or vegetable with lunch and low-fat milk. 2 Dig deeper. Some parents don't know that while the school's menu may sound unhealthy, it is often modiﬁed to meet national guidelines: protein sources are baked, not fried; whole grains are offered daily; and vegetarian options are always available. Check out your school's lunch policy for more information. 3 Let them help. If you pack your children's lunch, take them to the grocery store and allow them to help pick out items to include. Back at home, let them help pack their lunch. They will be more likely to eat the items they choose and prepare. 4 Teach them to be allinclusive. Whether your children take their lunch or buy it, talk to them about including something from each food group: whole grains, 12 Summer 2014 Well Presentation can make all the difference. Cut up fruits and vegetables ahead of time into smaller, bite-sized pieces such as whole-wheat bread, tortilla or pita bread; lean protein, such as turkey breast, canned tuna in water, or egg salad; fruits; vegetables; and low-fat dairy, such as low-fat yogurt or 2% milk. A healthy lunch example: turkey and cheese rolled up in a whole-wheat tortilla, carrot sticks, apple slices and low-fat yogurt. 5 Presentation can make all the difference. Cut up fruits and vegetables ahead of time into smaller, bite-sized pieces. Add a veggie dip, a low-fat cheese dip or a fruit dip. Kids love to dip! You can also skewer fruit pieces to make snacking fun. Food is always more fun on a stick! 6 Pack something sweet. We all crave something sweet at the end of a meal. A few Hershey's Kisses, mini-sized chocolates or a box of raisins are great options. 7 Healthy food choices start at home. Introduce new foods along with familiar ones. If your kids see you eating healthy, they will be more likely to mimic your behavior. PHOTOS: THINKSTOCK he new school year offers exciting learning opportunities, and kids who eat better, learn better. Teaching your kids healthy eating habits is difﬁcult enough, but knowing they are making the healthy choice in the school lunch room can be especially challenging. Liz Watt, registered dietitian at the UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont, offers seven tips for helping your kids make the right food choices at school.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Well - Summer 2014

Well - Summer 2014
Contents
UNC Health Care News
New Patient Portal Provides More Features
Making Room for Hope at the Ronald McDonald House
Room to Breathe
Nutrition
Calendar

Well - Summer 2014