Back to School with a Healthy Start

Now that the children are returning to school, it’s time to make their lunches once again. Instead of their typical PB&Jelly sandwiches, chips and soda; how about switching it up a little and giving them something a little more nutritious? You can send them on with a yogurt, cream cheese celery sticks, slices of apples that have soaked in pineapple juice (so they don’t discolor), pretzels, and of course a bottle of water. By giving them something healthy, they can think more clearly during their day. Thankfully, creating a healthy midday meal doesn't have to be time-consuming. The key is creativity,  a trove of healthy recipes that can be quickly prepared.  A lot of kids get bored with sandwiches, but take the same ingredients and package them in a different way, and it becomes a lunch your child gets excited to eat.  Your kid might stick her tongue out at a ham and cheese sandwich, in other words, but gobble up ham and cheese shish kebabs—chunks of skewered whole-grain bread, ham, cheddar cheese, and a few cherry tomatoes.

Another way to improve the odds that your brown bag lunch will actually be eaten—not trashed or traded—is by getting your child involved. So get your kids involved and start them off with a healthy new school year!