National School Lunch Week is October 9-13, 2017

October 2, 2017 | Community News, Community News and Media, Statewide

Healthy lunches don’t have to be boring or redundant! National School Lunch Week (NSLW) is October 9-13, 2017 and this year’s theme is: ‘School Lunch: Recipes for Success’, making it the perfect time for parents to revamp the art of packing lunches. NSLW was created in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy to celebrate the successes of the National School Lunch Program. Here are three easy tips for making lunchtime fun and healthy:

• Smaller portions and more options – The term ‘bento’ is the Japanese word for a meal in a box with compartments. Utilizing a bento box for lunch time is a great way to keep portion sizes in check while allowing for a variety of foods to eat during meals. Not sure where to start? Here are 20 creative ideas that will inspire you.
• Avoid white bread – White bread has little nutritional value and eating it often can contribute to weight gain. With tortillas, whole grain bread, and pitas as options, you can make lunch time more nutritious by swapping out white bread. Turkey and cheese cracker stacks and peanut butter and banana wraps are great ways to skip the bread.

Eat a rainbow of foods – Fresh fruits and vegetables are a great way to bring some color into lunch boxes. Using a variety of colorful foods is a great way to keep kids interested and excited to try new things. Make sure to incorporate all food groups – fruits, vegetables, protein, dairy, and grains.

 

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