ESCANABA - Do you know what your children are eating for lunch at school? A child's ability to learn is directly connected to what his/her are eating. Whether a child opts for the school's hot lunch program or brings a sack lunch, nutrition and food safety must be top priorities.
Some local schools have joined Team Nutrition, which is a national program geared to assist schools in providing great tasting, low-fat and low-salt school meals. These schools can access support and free materials to use with students and families for nutrition education. These materials can be used as simply as adding a nutrition tidbit to the lunch menu before distributing or planning a Nutrition Fair at the school. There are also grant opportunities for implementing innovative nutrition related programs. Team Nutrition has the endorsement of Michigan State University Extension, Michigan Department of Education and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Schools not yet enrolled in the Team Nutrition program can enroll at any time by contacting the Michigan Department of Education Local schools are all part of the National School Lunch Program, which means that the lunch they provide includes all five food groups served in portion sizes. However, if a child is a picky eater, parents may opt to pack a sack lunch on those days when the school lunch is not their favorite choice.
When packing a sack lunch for a child, try to maintain those same rules of offering all five food groups - Grains, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk, Meat and Beans. Not only will the child get the nutrients their growing bodies need, but as they digest the different foods they will get the energy they need to last the whole afternoon.
Try to vary the foods so that the lunch does not become the "same old thing." Use peta bread or a soft tortilla shell and fill it with their favorite meat or cheese. Make an interesting filling my mixing peanut butter with either shredded carrots or applesauce. Add some crunch to egg salad with chopped celery or water chestnuts. Arrange for the child to get nutritious cold milk at school instead of sending fruit punch or juice that contains lots of sugar. Instead of a cookie, give them a snack bag filled with their favorite dry cereal. Cereal has loads of nutrients added to it.
Here are some tips to be certain that you send your children on their way with a nutritious lunch that will be safe to eat at lunchtime.
Keep Hot Foods Hot: When packing a hot food such as soup or leftover casserole it must be packed in an insulated thermos container to maintain the temperature. If the temperature drops below 140 degrees bacteria begins to multiply very quickly!
Keep Cold Foods Cold: Anything you take out of the refrigerator and put into your lunch must be kept cold. This includes meat, tuna, or egg salad sandwiches, milk, cheese or yogurt, canned fruit that has been opened, and fresh vegetables. If the temperature of these foods rise above 40 degrees bacteria begins to multiply very quickly!
Use Cooling Tools: Include a freezer pack to keep the lunch cold: Buy a commercial gel pack or freeze water in a rigid, leak-proof plastic container. You can also freeze your juice box to keep your lunch cold it will thaw to drink at lunchtime.
Fight Germs: Pack a hand washing wipe in your lunch in case soap and water aren't available. Clean hands are your first defense against germs.
Maintain Cleanliness: Always prepare foods with clean hands, clean equipment and in a clean work area.
Pack It Right: Pack your lunch in a clean container. Wash your lunch box with warm, soapy water after every use. Use only clean paper bags.
Good nutrition is essential to good education. Studies show that children who eat a nutritious breakfast and lunch have a higher attention and retention ability as well as higher test scores. Discuss with children the importance of good nutrition for good health. Providing nutritious foods for them serves no purpose if they throw it in the garbage. To receive more information about nutrition, contact the MSU Extension office, 2840 College Ave., Escanaba, or phone 786-3032.
---
Mary Simonsen is manager of Delta County's Extension Family Nutrition Program. Her column runs occasional Mondays in the Daily Press Lifestyles Section. The Michigan State University Extension Office is located at 2840 College Ave., Escanaba; phone: 786-3032.