School Lunches - What Should You Send?

Q. Dear Bracha, I'm concerned about my children's nutrition. They often bring back their lunchboxes with food still inside, and they tell me that they don't like their school lunches. How can I know if they're eating enough, eating the right things, or getting proper nutrients?

A. You have just found out one of the best kept secrets of parenting life! School is a separate dimension that parents will never be able to fully penetrate. This means you will never know exactly what happens in the school world, including what is happening to your child's lunch!

The possibilities are endless with regards to nutrition for kids at school. Perhaps your child is eating all his lunch; perhaps he is throwing it all out so you will not nag him. Maybe he is trading his school lunch with others who have snacks he prefers. The point being...you will never know!

What you do know is what he is eating at home and that is where your concentration should be. In the meantime, it is a good idea to try and give children school lunches with items they prefer to eat, as long as it's not ''junk''. Unfortunately, if a lot of their school mates are eating junk, then this is probably what they want. See if you can give them one item that is more of a fun food without the high sugar/junk qualities. Some children like dried fruit, such as banana chips or dried pineapple. Some granola bars are more nutritious than others. Watch the sugar content, check the labels, and keep your child away from artificial sweeteners unless your child has a specific medical condition.

If something works, it works. If your child wants jam sandwiches every day and is eating them, then don't worry about nutrition for kids in this instance - just give him jam sandwiches! In order to create a clear plan of action, have a discussion with your children and get a better idea of what they want for their school lunches, keeping in mind your healthy limits. Keep your focus on nutrition for kids at home. Send them off to school with a healthy breakfast and give them a healthy snack when they come home. Add to all this a healthy supper, and you should have no worries about children's nutrition!

Wishing you and your family all the best, Bracha