Good teachers know that the best way to keep their students engaged is to make the subject matter interesting.
The same could be said for parents trying to instill in their children healthy eating habits, starting with their back-to-school lunchbox.
“It's really easy to do but the key is planning and taking the time to educate yourself because your children follow what you do,” said Evelyn Paul, a doting Roswell mother and aunt. "No matter what you think, our children eat what we eat."
Granted that being a trained chef puts her at an advantage, Paul says encouraging kids to eat healthy is as simple as making healthy choices yourself. And for heaven’s sake, cook. Even if you're baking cookies and frying chicken, unless you're cooking with lard, it's a whole lot healthier if you make it at home.
"You're automatically cutting out the preservatives," Paul said.
Not only is it healthier, she said, it's cheaper, too.
When parents pay no attention to diet, Paul said there can be unintended circumstance. They may have to hire tutors because unhealthy diets inhibit their children's learning. They may have to pay doctors because unhealthy foods contribute to incidences of diabetes and other illnesses.
Depending on your child's age, Paul said parents can take simple steps to make their lunches more inviting, including cutting food into shapes and adding color for the younger crowd. And whatever you do, make sure middle and high school students remain cool among their peers.
She uses cookie-cutters, for instance, to cut sandwiches, cheese and fruits into fun shapes for the little ones. And instead of packing peanut butter and jelly for the older crowd, meat sandwiches are more to their liking. Serving sizes should also be taken into consideration, Paul said. An athlete might need two sandwiches rather than one.
For parents whose kids insist on eating the school lunch, experts recommend that parents first investigate what the school lunch is really like and, in the process, educate their kids.
"Visit the school cafeteria and have lunch with your child," said Amy Kalafa, author of "Lunch Wars" and producer of the award-winning documentary "Two Angry Moms." "It’s the best way to see what the school is really serving. And as you go through the line with your child, you can point out or, even better, have your child point out what they think is healthy and what’s not. You see really quickly that way whether they know what the best options are."
Kalafa said parents should also encourage their children to read labels because what you see isn't always what you get.
"For instance, when kids see Nutri-Grain bars, they of course think they’re healthy," said Kalafa. "But when you actually read the labels and see what’s in the food, corn syrup is one of the top ingredients."
In addition, she said, parents can also request an ingredient list, as all schools are now required by law to furnish such information. If you’re not happy with that list or with the choices that you find in your child’s school, Kalafa said that parents should work with their school’s food service director and administrators to usher in healthier choices.
"Also, for schools that have computerized systems, you can often use these to see what your child is eating and even block certain items so that they can’t order Pop Tarts, cookies or other items," she said.
Paul suggested these tips for parents of student who prefer packing their lunches:
- Plan meals ahead of time.
- Get the kids involved so that even if it's healthy, they feel like they're in control. If they make it, they are more likely to eat it.
- Respect their eating style and preferences, which will encourage them to eat what's been prepared.
- Always include good healthy complex carbohydrates such as whole grain pastas, crackers, cookies and fruits, which nourish the brain and help boost energy.
About the Author
