Healthy Alternatives to Junk Food for Kids Lunches

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While most kids will put up with a sandwich and a piece of fruit in their lunch box,
they probably go for the “good” stuff first when the bell rings to announce the lunch hour.
This means that they’re filling up on chips, soda, candy, and whatever else you put in as
extras before they ever reach for the healthy items that are actually going to give them
some nutrients and offer the sustained energy they’ll need to make it through the end of
the school day. Of course, the reason for this is that the high volume of sugar, salt, and
fat in these items makes them very tasty, and our brains are programmed to stimulate
pleasure centers. If you put that stuff in your child’s lunch, he’s sure to eat it first. Sadly,
school lunches are not much better, with low-cost and less-than-fresh options generally
populating the assembly line of slop. So what can concerned parents do to ensure that
their kids are eating healthy? Here are a couple of options.

For starters, stop buying junk! You might think that it’s not so bad if your kid has it
once in a while, but the truth is that these substances are addictive. You’ve no doubt
heard the Lays potato chips catchphrase: No one can eat just one! This is because it
takes very little exposure for our bodies to begin craving the instant energy boost that
often accompanies snack foods and drinks. And the crash that follows all too soon only
makes us want more. Soon other, healthier foods become less desirable. But in your
home you have the power to control what your kids are eating. So your first strategy
should be to start reading labels in order to understand what you’re actually giving
your children and stop purchasing items that don’t have good nutritional value. From
there you can even petition the school to provide healthy options in the cafeteria and fill
vending machines with water instead of sugar-laden soda.

As for including healthy alternatives in kids’ lunches that they’ll love, there are many
options. Once you have removed offending items you can begin to replace them with
foods that contain natural (and healthy) fats and sugars. Instead of chips you can supply
kids with a variety of nuts or homemade trail mix. Instead of sugary snacks and candy
you can include seasonal fruits, apple sauce, or even smoothies. If you want your kids
to eat more vegetables, experiment at home with crudité to see which veggies they like.
Or think about including nutritious dips like hummus, natural peanut (or other nut) butter,
or a vinaigrette (if that’s what they like).

You might also consider adding organic items to your grocery list as a way to ensure
that your kids aren’t being exposed to harmful chemicals (even in small, trace amounts).
And anything that is homemade (treats, bread, etc.) is bound to be healthier than
prepackaged foods since you have total control over what goes into it. In truth, it’s not
that hard to provide healthy alternatives that your kids will enjoy. You can’t necessarily
stop them from trading with friends, but you can at least give them a better option.