With school right around the corner, we want our youngsters doing their best in school and reaching their fullest potential. It all starts with feeding them the proper meals and snacks to get those brain waves moving. When my daughter started kindergarten her class was the first for all day kindergarten. Our regimen of nutrition at home is that they have a snack roughly every 2-3 hours. Her first week of school unleashed a lion. My little angel had turned into a temper tantrum throwing machine, and with the school meal structuring we found out she was not eating to keep her blood sugar levels stabilized every 2-3 hours. Does this sound familiar?? WOW this was a shocker.
With the food industry controlling the school systems with sugar and over processed foods, how do we control the growing epidemic of childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes? Our children are exposed to fried foods, fake processed food, salt, deli meats (high nitrates) and internal marketing of food companies. To make matters worse children are not getting the exercise that they once did and their health is failing. Studies show children are taking cholesterol medication as early as high school in some populations! Studies also show that 3% of children actually ride a bike to school!
When it comes our childrens nutrition at school it is very important to educate our children in making healthy food choices. From early age to adolescents, proper nutrition for long term health should be the main focus. Food should not be used as a reward or punishment. Try to really focus on the family sitting at the table. Turn off all distractions like the T.V, computer, or game boys and make your supper table a pleasant experience.
I know it is hard at school when pizza and sweets are available and everybody else is eating these foods. Personally I think a lunch cooler is your key to success and it is never to late to start this habit.
Here are some foods to include in their lunch cooler, and I really encourage you to involve your child in the food preparation phase. Children love to help and they love to go grocery shopping.
- A variety of raw fresh fruits and vegetables
- Raw unsalted nuts and seeds
- All natural peanut or almond butter
- Hummus spread
- 100% whole wheat pita, bagel, bread, and crackers
- Plain unsweetened yogurt
- Dried fruit
- Leftovers from the night before
- Sparkling water
- Make your juice with one part water and two parts juice
- String cheese
- Unsweetened apple sauce
- Oatmeal instead of sugary cereals
- Avoid all foods that have ingredients that you can not pronounce.
- 1% cottage cheese
- Turkey breast for sandwiches that you make, no lunch meat
- No chips, try selba crackers or pita chips
- Skim milk
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You hit a cord! Love the article!! If you want to do a little more digging for the root of our children’s problems, check out Sunday Lincoln Journal Star. Article name Doughnut rant is Doctor’s Downfall. That will get you fired up!!
Great thank you! Yes Dr. Oz on Oprah had the same topic today!
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