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Dietitian/Nutritionists Recommendations for School Lunches

in The Too Busy to Diet Blog on November 5, 2013

Dietitians recommend that a healthy lunch should include a protein, vegetable, fruit, and grain choice. Protein choices would include: hard cooked egg, low-fat lunch meats, tuna, yogurt, especially Greek yogurt that can contain almost 2 ounces of protein in each cup, low-fat cheese slices, mozzarella sticks, hummus, or beans. A grain choice would include: whole wheat bread, whole wheat tortillas, quinoa, beans, or whole wheat pasta. Remember to check that your grain choice include 3 grams of fiber for each serving to allow adequate fiber intake. Fruit choices would include: fresh fruit or foiled pouches of pureed fruit. Vegetable choices would include: raw vegetables with a side of dip from low-fat salad dressings or hummus.
Don’t forget to include a cold pack and an insulated bag to keep the food cold! Parents are also encouraged to make their lunches fun and attractive by making animal shapes and smiley faces with foods served. And also include notes to your child. Great concepts! But not always feasible on busy days. So if you forget these tips, don’t feel bad. My kids turned out pretty good sans the artistic lunches and the little notes. I did always give them a kiss on the way out the door! Worked for me.