School lunches that make the grade

Kids need more than pens, pencils, and notebooks to
successfully get through a day at school. They also need healthy lunches. Here are some tips on how to make sure your child eats healthy foods while at school:

Get your child involved with the planning and packing of lunches.
Acknowledge his or her likes and dislikes.
Assemble lunch the night before to avoid morning delays.
If your child buys lunch at the school cafeteria, make sure he or she knows the difference between healthy and unhealthy foods.
Teach your child about portions and portion control.
Think healthy and think light.
Teach your children to eat until they are no longer hungry, not until they are stuffed.

Stumped for ideas on what to pack? Try these:

Main dishes

Healthy snacks

Sandwich made with whole-grain
bread, lean meat, and low-fat cheese,
or with peanut butter and all-fruit jelly
Pita pocket stuffed with shredded turkey,
chicken, light roast beef, or grated vegetables, low-fat cheese, and
light salad dressing
Mini pizza, whole-grain English muffin,
or bagel topped with turkey pepperoni,
mozzarella cheese, and garlic herb
cream cheese
Low-fat tuna or chicken salad on a
mini bagel

Low-fat yogurt, either in a container or in a tube
Wheat crackers with peanut butter or low-fat cheese
Cottage cheese, with or without fruit
Pudding made with skim milk
String cheese
Salsa with baked chips
Peanuts
Small bag of light popcorn

Fruits and vegetables	Occasional treats
Red pepper strips, carrots, celery, sugar snap peas, green beans, or jicama sticks with salsa or light ranch dressing Fresh fruit Fruit cups Applesauce	Baked or low-fat potato chips Fun-size candy bars Low-fat cookies

Foods to limit

Regular snack chips
(potato, tortilla, etc.)
Full-sized candy bars
Regular cookies
Canned fruits in sweetened syrup