Tips for Organic Families
1. Protein in Perspective
Years ago, our moms sent us to school with protein-heavy meat sandwiches and coins to buy whole milk. These days, its easy to lighten up with your kids favorite organic vegetables, low-fat cheese or tofueach of which proves wholesome with whole-grain bread. Beans are another terrific source of protein and fiber, with negligible saturated fat.
Make a great-tasting bean dip, and cut up some whole-wheat pita triangles for a healthy lunch to go, advises pediatrician Mary Ellen Renna, MD, author of Growing Up Healthy the Next Generation Way: Add Years to Your Childs Life & Life to Your Childs Years.
Nuts and seeds are portable, healthy snacks that are perfect for lunch boxes, she adds. They are loaded with protein and packed with energy. Ounce for ounce, pumpkin seeds have almost as much protein as beef or chicken, with a lot more of the good fatsand even have some of the amazingly heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
2. Liquid Logic
What your child drinks with lunch each day is just as important as what he or she eats, Dr. Renna says. Send your child with either water, low-fat milk or a fruit-juice boxbut make sure that the juice box is made from only 100% juice and is fortified with calcium, as well. Many juices contain only minimal amounts of real fruit juice and instead are filled with a lot of sugar. Read the labels and look for a juice box that is 100% pure fruit juice, such as Apple & Eves 100% juice box line. (Its organic!)
3. Involvement and Input
Moms havent traditionally asked us what we wanted to eat for lunch. Wed open our lunch box and grab a soggy tuna sandwich and some cookiesthe icky kind no one even wanted in the daily trade. Times have changed: When you take your children to your local natural and organic food store, allow them to help you shop for school lunch staples and snacks.
4. No Fuss, No Muss
It may seem obvious, but it helps to prepare organic lunches that are easy to eat, Serrano says. Make sure food is cut at the appropriate size for young children.