Healthy Eats for Back to School
I realize, that for some of you, this tip may be appearing in your inbox a couple of weeks after the big yellow bus has begun making its rounds, but here in the northeast, school doesn’t begin until after Labor Day! So, I am just beginning to think about what sort of food staples I will need to have on hand during this new academic year.
For motivation in terms of healthy food gathering and preparation, we parents need to remind ourselves why it is that our children attend school (or are home schooled)—to enrich their minds and their bodies! That said, you and I have a responsibility, as the providers of their “fuel”, to make sure that their brains and bodies have the necessary “power foods” to keep their performance humming at an optimal level.
If we fail to keep our focus on the “high test fuel” that our kids require for superior performance, packing lunches and snacks can start off great at the beginning of the year, but then degrade to a baloney sandwich on white bread accompanied by pudding pack and a sugary drink box by the year’s end. This just won’t do. Your kids deserve every chance at academic achievement in their schooling, and you, mom or dad, can give them what their bodies need!
For continued success—on your part and theirs—mix and match items from these 4 healthy food groups and fill their stomachs with performance enhancing fuel!
LEAN PROTEINS
- Turkey (try roasting and slicing a turkey “London broil”)
- Chicken (strips of chicken breast meat or baked drumsticks)
- Pork (tenderloin slices go a long way)
- Hard boiled eggs
- Beans (chickpeas, Great Northern, pink, black, etc.)
- Hummus
- Protein bars (brands like Clif®, Zone®, Luna®, or Larabars®)
- Greek yogurt
HEALTHY FATS
- Nuts
- Nut butters
- Avocados
- Low fat cheese, 1% or skim milk, or cottage cheese
COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES
- Whole grain breads, wraps, pretzel rods
- Pasta with a low glycemic index
- Granola bars (low sugar, high fiber)
- Bean salad
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
- You’ve got this—just remember, think depth of color and high in fiber!
So leave the white bread, chips, and Twinkies® in the store for the less fortunate eaters. This year it’s time to help your family eat well, learn well, and be well!