As school starts, it’s time to thinking about nutrition and food safety for school lunch. If you pack lunch for your child, keep these tips in mind:
- Have your child help with shopping a preparation for their lunch. Chances are your child will eat the whole lunch!
- Add colorful fruits and vegetables that are ready-to-eat.
- Change up the menu during the week so meals don’t get boring.
- Use an insulated lunch bag with a small ice pack. Freeze juice boxes or fruit cups to help keep food cold.
- Limit convenience foods that add extra fat, sodium, and sugar.
- Prepare lunches the night before. Refrigerate cold items and add to the lunch bag in the morning.
Source: Iowa State University Extension
By: Jamie Rathbun
