Packing lunch for your child can be a difficult task at times, especially when trying to ensure your child’s nutritional needs were met.
But despite opting for the standard sandwich, it is important not to forget nutrition cannot be denied as it helps avoid obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
As the school year approaches, here are important food groups to add to your child’s lunchbox:
Bread, cereal, past and rice group
- Bread – Whole wheat
- Regular or whole wheat English muffins
- Whole wheat crackers
- Pita bread
Milk, yogurt and cheese group
- Low fat milk
- String cheese
- Yogurt
- Single serving cottage cheese
Fruit and vegetables group
- Grapes
- Bananas
- 100% fruit juice
- Watermelon
- Apples
- Carrots
- Celery sticks
- Broccoli
- Raisins
Meat and nut group
- Chicken drumsticks
- Sliced ham
- Boiled eggs
- Peanut butter
- Peanuts
The above mentioned food groups play a instrumental part in anyone’s health. Other than boosting your child’s health with much-needed nutritional valued meals, a decently packed lunch box does have other benefits.
Other benefits include:
Improved academic performance
A healthy lunch supplies children with the necessary glucose and protein levels to remain focused and concentrate.
Behavioural benefits
Children who have healthy lunches are less disruptive in classroom, absent less often and are less irritable.
Fighting ADHD symptoms
Another important part of a healthy lunch is that it may have beneficial effects on ADD symptoms, especially foods rich in protein.
Protein-rich foods are used to make neurotransmitters, the chemicals released by brain cells to communicate with each other. An added benefit it that it can also prevent surges in blood sugar, which increases hyperactivity.
How do you get your children to eat their food?
To ensure your child enjoys their respective lunches, it is important to get them involved in the process.
By getting your child involved, allowing them to choose what they want from the selected food groups, you are ensuring they are eating their food and getting the necessary nutrition.
