School Lunches:
Kids Corner

Aired on Superstation WGN
Saturday, May 28 and September 17, 2005
Show 214

Remember heading off to school with that bag lunch? Inside a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, an apple or maybe a thermos of hot soup. Your kids will eat more than 2,000 lunches throughout their school years. The bad news is, some kids aren't getting the nutrition they need. When you pack a lunch, it needs to be something fun, fast and nutritious. So your best bet is to do a little advance planning with your kids. If they're involved in the planning and the food choices, chances are they're gonna eat that lunch you send with them. Take your kids to the grocery store and let them show you what they like to eat. Look for foods like baby carrots, individual fruit or pudding cups and granola bars. Sit down with your child each week, and make a school lunch menu. And pack as much as possible of a lunch the night before. What about prepackaged lunches that are so popular these days? Some are good, others not so good. Carefully compare the labels. Check the calories and the fat content. And be sure to think about price. Chances are you're paying extra for a little bit more convenience. Remember, good nutrition is for life. And it's never too early to start teaching your kids how to eat right.