Parents’ Poll: What’s for Lunch?
Results of the poll:
More of your kids bring lunch than eat the school lunch. Some of you said it varies, depending on what's scheduled on the school menu. Those whose kids are homeschooled reminded us that their kids eat at home.
What you told us:
Here are 10 of the great, practical lunch suggestions from among the many helpful tips you shared.
- Discuss the menu with your kids and plan it ahead. Fresh lunches are always a delight!! To keep food warm, I pour hot water into the hot lunch packs and keep them closed for 30 minutes, then pour out the water and quickly fill in the hot lunch and close it.
- I let my kids help pick out lunch food at the grocery store. If they helped to pick it out, they are more inclined to eat it. Get them involved with the lunch-bag packing. School lunchtime is short, so I keep the sack lunch easy to eat. Nothing too messy or hard to open.
- In my child's school, there is too little time for eating and socializing. My child can eat at home every day. He doesn't get as many opportunities to socialize. So I pack him a "snack" instead of a big lunch. Things like sliced apples and peanut butter, hard-boiled egg and milk. Or crackers with cheese, grapes, and milk. Or a cup of Cheerios, half a banana, and milk. Then, when he gets home at 4:00 PM, I serve him a healthy lunch, like a bowl of chicken-noodle soup, half a sandwich, and milk. We eat dinner around seven, so he has time to build an appetite for that.
- Cut crust off the bread and cut sandwiches into shapes such as triangles, rectangles, or even round shapes, if you have a cutter. This can also be done with cheese slices. Also use a decorative thermos filled with fruit juice or milk (sometimes flavored).
- My kids like to have several little things, rather than just a few big things.
- Even when my girls decide to buy lunch, I offer them the option to take along a healthy dessert and/or extra beverage. This way they feel they have a special treat without resorting to buying the ice cream and junk snacks that are available as extras from the school cafeteria.
- A good thermos is a great buy! I bought a "camping" thermos at an Army and Navy store for my son when he was in kindergarten. He is now in 5th grade, and we are still using it. The initial investment was $20, a little pricier than the ones you find in the lunch-box aisle, but it keeps the food hot and lasts a long time.
- Here are some quick lunches I make (due to nut allergies so prevalent in schools, it can be even harder to prepare a quick and healthy lunch, so I'll just include non-nut items here): berries, apples, whatever fruit is in season; slices of cheese and whole-grain crackers; whole-grain sandwiches (like cucumber, sprouts, cheddar cheese, and Russian dressing); salad w/dressing in a little Tupperware on the side for dipping; salad in a roll-up; cheddar and sliced apples on whole-grain bread; small whole-grain bagel sandwiches. You can save money (and the environment) by using reusable containers.
- If you don't have a tiny freezable gel pack, try freezing a small-portion juice box. It will thaw by lunchtime and keep foods fresh (4 oz. is best). No soggy bread.
- Tuck a note inside the lunch box; use stickers. I get a kick out of being silly some days (putting a trail of ant stickers roaming over her sandwich baggie), and she gets a surprise at lunch!
Here are some responses from those of you who were pleased with the school lunch.
- They offer a salad bar with fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, and cheeses, along with the option of a hot entree. I encourage her to make healthy choices.
- Our school has implemented strict nutritional standards mandated by the State of Kansas, allowing only small amounts of fat and sugar, and adding whole grain to all breads. Remarkably, the kids still like the food!
Here are some responses from those of you who were not pleased with the school lunch.
- It is horribly unhealthy, and it is grooming children to become fast-food addicts. Our schools have a responsibility to "teach" healthy eating as well as other subjects, like math or English. In fact, they are already teaching their views on diet whether they realize it or not, but not in a good way.
- Vegetables like corn are not nutritious, and "juice" bars are not going to replace true fruit in a child's diet.
A number of you liked it when kids were given food choices at school, while others felt this allowed kids to make unhealthy selections.
We asked you about your child's favorite lunch foods.
We were amazed at how much consistency there was in these favorites. The top 5 favorites were
Pizza
Peanut-butter sandwiches (sometimes with jelly)
Chicken
Cheese sandwiches
Ham sandwiches
Next on the list were
Spaghetti
Turkey
Apples
Bananas
Chicken-noodle soup
Some parents lamented their kids' favorite food choices:
- Junk, junk, and more junk; all the healthy stuff comes back.
Some fruits and veggies besides apples and bananas did get mentioned. These included carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and melon.
Here's how some of you encourage your kids to eat healthy foods for lunch.
- We discuss the importance of eating right and the benefits of each food item. We also encourage our kids to cook with us so that they can relish the food better.
- My son is only six. If I pack the healthy foods that he likes, he has no alternative.
- One big thing that I have done is to give juice and water on alternate days--avoiding too much juice.
- We have the rule that any uneaten food comes home. I get to see eating patterns and then what may not be liked ... so we can talk about it.
- Talk about what a strong, healthy body he has. Talk about energy to run faster, to climb higher, and to concentrate in school without being tired.
- I allow them to pack whatever they desire from a prescribed menu of "pack your lunch" foods. This way they get to choose and feel in charge ... but I have ultimate control of healthy choices instead of junk foods.
- By introducing him to different options at home, he enjoys a wide variety of foods. By going to the farmers' market on the weekend, we have really fresh fruits and veggies. Letting him accompany me to the farmers' market also lets him try different things. We don't limit choices to "kid food." He will often will try new things and end up liking them.
- Set a good example. If I don't eat it, she won't!