Make sure children eat healthful foods at school cafeterias

[Guest guest]

Make sure children eat healthful foods at school cafeterias

Buying lunch at school may be the first time kids get to call the shots on which

foods they will eat. School lunches have improved over the years in taste and

nutrition, with many schools serving healthier dishes such as grilled chicken

sandwiches and salads.

But some school meals still exceed recommendations for fat. In the typical

school cafeteria, kids can still choose an unhealthful mix of foods. For

instance, a child might decide to buy a hot dog, day after day.

Use school lunches as a chance to steer your child toward good choices.

Especially with younger children, explain how a nutritious lunch will give them

energy to finish the rest of the school day and enjoy after-school activities.

Here are some other tips:

Look over the menu together • Ask what a typical lunch includes and which meals

your kids particularly like. Recommend items that are healthier, but be willing

to allow them to buy favorite lunch items occasionally, even if that includes a

hot dog.

Ask about foods like chips, soda and ice cream. Find out if and when these foods

are available at school.

Pack a lunch • Encourage children to take a packed lunch, at least occasionally.

This can put you back in the driver's seat and help ensure that kids get a

nutritious midday meal.

Healthful choices • Encourage your children to choose cafeteria meals that

include fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains, such as whole wheat

instead of white bread. Also, they should avoid fried foods when possible and

choose low-fat milk or water as a drink.

Smart snacks • If you're helping pack a lunch, start by brainstorming foods and

snacks that your children would like to eat. In addition to old standbys, such

as peanut butter and jelly, try pitas or wrap sandwiches stuffed with grilled

chicken or veggies. Try soups and salads, and don't forget last night's

leftovers as easy lunchbox fillers.

" Parents sometimes feel they have to provide the perfect lunch. You can pack all

the best foods, but whether the child will eat it is a different story, " says

Rita Chrivia, a clinical dietitian at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical

Center. " Most kids have a favorite meal or two, and it's OK to repeat those

favorites pretty often as long as you're including at least two of the four

basic food groups. "

School rules • Be sure to check with the school to make sure that there aren't

any restrictions on what kids can pack in their lunches. And don't forget to

involve your kids in the process so that healthier lunches can become a goal

they strive for, too.

Fresh, not spoiled • A packed lunch carries the added responsibility of keeping

the food safe to eat. That means keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold. One

study found that less than a third of parents included a cold pack when packing

yogurt, deli-meat sandwiches and other foods that need refrigeration.

Here are some suggestions to keep lunch foods safe:

• Wash your hands before handling food items.

• Use a thermos for hot foods.

• Use cold packs or freeze some foods and drinks overnight. They'll thaw in the

lunchbox.

• Wash out lunchboxes every day or use brown paper bags that can be discarded or

recycled.

• Toss in some moist towelettes to remind children to wash their hands before

eating and to clean up afterward.

Dr. Bob Wilmott is chief of pediatrics at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical

Center and is a professor at St. Louis University School of Medicine. If you

have a question about your child's health, go to the " Ask Dr. Bob " section of

cardinalglennon.com.