A Cool Lunchbox OVER
With school officially launched, it also means packed lunches and cool lunch boxes for many kids. Unfortunately, kids today don’t get all the essential nutrients their little bodies need and by following these
tips, you can help your child learn & implement healthy eating choice habits. Fill their lunch box with goodies but healthy goodies!
- Penny for penny, dairy is one of the best nutritional values of any food group. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans identifies the milk group as a “food group to encourage” because milk provides many key nutrients including calcium, potassium, magnesium and vitamin A. These are especially important nutrients for growing kids and teens, yet typically lacking in their daily diets.
- Think whole grains and lean meats. School lunch sandwiches aren’t limited to bread. Consider creative tortilla wraps with whole grains and lean meat. Add more flavor and nutrients with shredded low fat cheese and grated vegetables. Or, wrap string cheese and dried or fresh fruit in a tortilla wrap for an easy, on-the-go snack.
- Healthy dessert. Mix together low fat flavored yogurt with sliced fresh fruit and sprinkle with low fat granola for a bit of crunch. It’s a great way to add more fruit and dairy into a kid’s diet while adding a touch of sweetness.
- Choose colorful vegetables. In general, colorful vegetables are packed with nutrients. Bring kids to the supermarket or farmers market with you and make it a game for them to select the most colorful vegetables for lunch. The more children are engaged in selecting their food, the more likely they are to try and enjoy new items in their diet.
- According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, small amounts of sugar added to nutrient-rich foods, such as low fat and fat-free dairy foods, may increase consumption of such foods by enhancing the taste, so overall nutrient intake is improved without contributing excessive calories. In fact, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that children who drink flavored or plain milk consume more nutrients and have a lower or comparable body mass index (BMI) than children who don’t drink milk.
Lunch Boxes That Last
A lunch box can make or break a healthy lunch. If a child loves his or her lunch box, he or she will get excited about what is inside. Lands’ End spokeswoman Michele Casper recommends parents and kids keep the following in mind when selecting lunch boxes:
- Easy Cleaning: At lunchtime, kids often don’t want to waste any playground time cleaning out their lunch boxes. Likewise, moms want a quick option as well. So look for seamless and nonporous interiors, like the CleanSweep lining from Lands’ End. The lining stops crumbs from gathering, can be wiped down or pulled out for quick cleaning, helps keep leftovers fresh and stops odors from starting.
- Leak Resistant: Look for a lunch box that is leak-resistant. Seamless interiors and sealed seams in lunch boxes help keep spills contained, unlike a brown paper bag.
- Access to Extras: Kids have to bring a variety of things to school, from milk money or milk tickets to separate snacks for snack time. Look for lunch boxes with exterior pockets that save kids from digging through their lunch boxes and making a mess. These pockets should be big enough to hold anything from a few milk tickets to a bag of grapes for a snack.
- Size Matters: No matter what kids usually eat, make sure their lunch box can hold it all and not destroy lunch in the process. Parents should look for lunch boxes that have rigid sides, so the sandwich made in the morning doesn’t turn into mush by lunchtime. Lunch boxes should be big enough to hold the entire lunch.
- Easy Identification: With so many food allergies today, it’s more important than ever to ensure kids don’t eat the wrong lunch. Look for lunch boxes that offer custom monogramming or embroidery. Interior identification tags in lunch boxes will also help make sure they don’t get lost. Look for lunch boxes with exterior features that will help keep kids safe, too. Reflective trim on lunch boxes helps make sure they’re visible at all times.
WIN IT!
Want to win a cool lunch box?!! Land’s End is giving one winner a lunch box of their choice (except thermacool because those are out of stock;)! Simply head over and check the lunch boxes out and come back here & tell me which one you like!
AND, you can come back and enter once a day until the giveaway ends!
This giveaway ends September 14th.
I like the Hot Stuff lunchbox in Garnet
I like the Classmate Lunchbox in Garnet.
dlcwin[at]gmail[dot]com
My granddaughter goes to the zoo and playground with her mom and I just love the Character Lunch Box for her. That is what I would like to win. Thanks for the great givaway
I like the Character Lunch Box in Pink!! (with the ballerina slippers)
Thanks!!!
Ginas last blog post..Great Giveaways…
I like the Deluxe Lunch Box in the clear pink.
The deluxe lunch sack
Any of them !
They all are great !
I Like the Uniform Hot Stuff Lunch Box in Red
I love the character lunch bags, especially the pink with ballet shoes!
I like the Mini Lunch Tote
My oldest son really wants me to win him a new lunchbox! I appreciate the chance.
Thanks, Cindi
Deluxe Lunch Sack in red
Marilyns last blog post..When I grow up,I want to be Cindy McCain
The Deluxe Luch Sack looks good…any color.
I
I love the CleanSweep Solid ClassMate Lunch Box
I like the character lunch box
pink is for me! Thanks!
got 5 kids in school definately a must
I love the Classmate Lunch Box in Garnet.
My favorite lunch box is the Uniform HotStuff Lunch Box in pink. If it’s in pink, my Dad won’t want to steal it. Thanks for the giveaway!!
I like the HotStuff Lunch Box in school color of True Navy. The Ultimate Lunch Box almost won out, because it comes in the favorite color of Lilac, however, the usefulness of the stainless steel canister makes the HotStuff the better value overall. Great choices, though! Hard to make a decision!
I like the Hotstuff lunch box in Garnet, thanks for such a great giveaway!
I love the Deluxe Lunch Sack in Rich Red.Lands End has very good quality.Please
enter me and thanks for the contest
I love the Dog Character Lunch Box!
I know a little girl who would love to have the Ballet Slippers character lunch box. She is being raised by her grandmother.
I would love to win the Uniform Deluxe Lunch Sack in blue!:)
I want it! My favorite is the doggie lunch box - P would flip out for that one!
Deluxe Lunch sack in red
I like the uniform mini lunch tote in clear pink. Thanks!
I pink puffy heart the Hot Stuff Lunchbox!!!
Uniform HotStuff Lunch Box–in pink!
I like the pink Mini Lunch Tote.
uniform hot boxes