Newswise — Don't get stuck in the same old rut this school year. Give your children lunches that they'll look forward to eating that will also be healthy and yummy.
"For instance, one of the best ways to make sure your kids like their lunches is to let them be in on the planning and packing process,"says Angie Eshleman RD LDN, a pediatric dietitian, at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland.
"It may take a little longer in the beginning, but they'll like having a choice and be more apt to eat their food."
Sinai's Eshleman also adds that instead of automatically making a turkey sandwich on whole wheat, you should let your child tell you that she'd rather have ham on multi-grain. Why throw an apple into your son's lunch box when he would rather have carrots. If they like dressing, pack a small container of low fat ranch.
If they are tired of the same old foods, Eshleman suggests a pasta salad with fun shaped, different color pasta or a cheese wrap, instead of a cheese sandwich?
As for the adults in your life, there are also ways to avoid putting the same old thing in your brown bag that will stop you from spending more at the last minute on cafeteria or restaurant lunches, which can be loaded with fat.
Eshleman's message, put the fun back into food.
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