Help Your Child’s Smile With Healthy School Lunches
School’s been in session for a few weeks now and you’ve finally gotten back into a rhythm. After you’ve double-checked your children’s homework, you’re likely to start prepping the next day’s lunch. Are you loading that lunchbox with tooth-friendly foods?
While we know daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste is essential to a healthy smile, nutrition has an effect on dental health too. Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease in the U.S., and researchers believe the increased consumption of junk foods, sugary snacks, carbonated drinks and sodas among children is to blame. If your children are in the habit of eating junk food daily, it’s not fair to expect them to have healthy teeth.
Here are a few tips to ensure you’re sending your children off to school with a healthy, balanced meal:
Think food groups.
Eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods from all the food groups promotes healthy teeth. Your child’s lunchbox should contain items from all food groups, especially the whole grain group, the dairy group, and the fruit and vegetable groups.
Don’t forget protein!
Growing children need protein. In fact, balancing protein and complex carbohydrates is important for brain function. Try peanut butter or lean turkey and cheese on whole-grain bread.
Fruits and veggies for the win!
Let your innovative thinking run wild here. Most children don’t choose fruits and vegetables as their favorite food group, especially when they have been packed in a closed container for a few hours. Get creative by cutting veggies into fun shapes or mixing veggies into mini hamburger patties.
The best beverage choice for your children is water.
Avoid fizzy juices and sodas whenever possible.
There are plenty of foods that prevent cavities, and it’s easy to incorporate them into your health school lunch ideas. Foods like cheese, fruits and vegetables can brighten up your child’s lunchbox and their smile too!
Looking for more inspiration? 100 Days of Real Foods offers tons of articles geared toward your child’s nutritional needs, including recipes.
Leave a reply →
