School Lunch Time!!!

For starters let me just say, if you are letting your children eat school lunches you really need to face a few facts.....  Such as:

Compared with kids who brought lunch from home, those who ate school lunches:

• Were more likely to be overweight or obese (38.2% vs. 24.7%)
• Were more likely to eat two or more servings of fatty meats like fried chicken or hot dogs daily (6.2% vs. 1.6%)
• Were more likely to have two or more sugary drinks a day (19% vs. 6.8%)
• Were less likely to eat at least two servings of fruits a day (32.6% vs. 49.4%)
• Were less likely to eat at least two servings of vegetables a day (39.9% vs. 50.3%)
• Had higher levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol

The school-lunch kids also were less likely to participate in active sports like basketball, moderate exercise like walking, or team sports than their home-fed counterparts.  They also spent more time watching TV, playing video games, and using computers outside of school.


Here is what they are serving at the school across the street from my old house this week..... 
 Krisp & Krunchy Chicken Tenders
Mashed Potatoes with Homestyle Gravy
 Bacon & Egg Breakfast Square
 Pork Sausage Pancake Wrap
 Rich’s French Toast Sticks
Don Lee Pork Sausage Patty


These are a few items on the school menu for some Sacramento CA schools....  All of which are super unhealthy!!!  Now I realize that some families are struggling out there and are doing what they can.   I get it we have all been broke at one point..  But if you have the money and you are not packing your child's lunch because it is encroaching on your true blood time or your mommy time at the end of the night then consider what they are eating and what you can do to help!!!!

Now on to the waste!!!  Not as important as our children's little bodies but still important non the less!!  Both the uneaten food in the cafeteria and excessive packaging of normal homemade lunches contribute to the landfill..  Here are few facts about the overall waste!!!

The average American wastes more than half a pound of food per day.

 Wasting food squanders the time, energy, and resources — both money and oil — used to produce that food. Increasingly, great amounts of fossil fuel are used to fertilize, apply pesticides to, harvest, and process food.  Then more gas is spent transporting food from farm to processor, wholesaler to restaurant, store to household, and finally to the landfill.

 Food rotting in landfills contributes to global warming. Landfills are America’s primary source of methane emissions, and the second-largest component of landfills is organic materials. When food decomposes in a landfill, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more damaging than carbon dioxide. Furthermore, wet food waste is the main threat to groundwater or stream pollution in the event of a liner leak or large storm,


 The average disposable "brown bag" lunch creates between 4 and 8 ounces of garbage according to Nubius Organics. That can add up to as much as 100 pounds per year. Not only do prepackaged and processed foods contain excess packaging, they are also up to 25 percent more expensive. And with the alarming increase of childhood obesity and diabetes, it's more important than ever to teach healthy eating habits to our children.

With that all said here are a few fun tricks of the lunch making trade....  They are all eco and healthy!!  A win-win situation if you ask me..

First things first, pay attention on weekends to what and how your child eats..  If they are children who even on a Saturday can't sit through a lunch without asking to get up so they can go back outside and play, then they are not going to be the kind of kid who sits at a lunch table with their friends and eats all their lunch....  Knowing your child and their eating habits and make meals accordingly..  You want to make sure they get the nutrients they need, so make a few things and make them small  portions so that eating doesn't take forever and become a drag to them..  If you can stick to a few things that they will get lots of nutrients from you are golden.  Some of these things might be a little bowl of almonds, and a few carrots with a little hummus, and maybe some strawberries for dessert..  This is all they need really they are children...  Giving them variety but small little portions that get the nutrient job done but not overkill....  They will be happy campers...  There is no need to be packing 6 different things such as sandwich with meat, bag of Doritos, fruit roll up, pudding cup, and Capri Sun... and an orange for good measure.  Who knows of a child who will take the time to peel an orange?!!!  Don't get me started on the Lunchables...  Hello empty calories with a candy bar to round it out..  It is just awful...

Knowing what your child wants to eat is a big part as well..  taking them shopping and having them pick out what sounds good is a really nifty way to make sure they will be eating what you are packing..  Go through the bulk section together and let your child pick their favorite trail mix, and dried fruit..  Give them lots of options and maybe sit at the table and plan when you get home.  Possibly making a little menu that gets them excited about their lunches..  This is something that really makes them feel connected to the process, and that makes little minds usually more invested...  Having them help pack a few things before they go to bed is fun for them as well, after they put on their jammies and brush their teeth have them help you put a few things in the reusable baggies, letting them pick a few of the items..  For mommies, one thing I can tell you is to make lunches in the evening..  Do it all or dang near almost all of it the night before, that also makes packing lunches a tad easier..  Doing it in the morning when everyone is groggy and you have not had your coffee and you are trying to get a kid or 2 dressed while making breakfast, feeding and letting the dog out and dressing yourself is a tad much even for super moms.. So give yourself one less thing to do in the morning.  That is probably the number one reason why families that can afford to make lunches do not, they are too overwhelmed and they just end up saying "you are buying a lunch today honey".  Lunches made at night means you have time to make yourself some tea or coffee in the morning use that for incentive!! Remember that ;)~....

For lunch:

Here are a few lunch combos that are sure to impress the little ones, and your pocket book....  Healthy and inexpensive!!  My Favorite!!!   These may seem skimpy but I assure you they pack the right nutrients for your child for their day!!

1) Granola, fruit and yogurt,,,  We use soy or almond but whatever you have...
 Handful of almonds or cashews
 celery sticks
 Water


2) Whole-grain, trans fat-free crackers
 Low-fat white cheese slices I use vegan cheese
 Baby carrots
 Granola bar, I make my own see recipe of the week for "Gift Giving Granola Bars"
 Water


3) Strawberries
 carrots
 hummus
 water


4) whole grain peanut butter apricot preserve wrap
 sliced peppers
 sliced apples
 water


5) whole grain wrap with veggie refried beans and cheese
 pear slices
 water

Those are a few lunches..  They are great choices and they will be eaten..  Your children will not be hungry..  Now if you are someone who already packs a lunch and are using processed foods you may want to ease your child into this..  Cutting out the bad things slowly, but eventually not buying them anymore is the way to go....

Now for the fun stuff, enough with the serious stuff...  These are my finds for amazing eco friendly lunch packing...

Lunch Boxes:
I am in love with these, they are super cool and you can decorate them super cute...
http://www.amazon.com/ECOlunchbox-Three-in-One/dp/B0040MH642/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334117921&sr=8-1

These are fun because of the strap!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Konserve-Beach-Insulated-Lunch/dp/B0032UXT9E/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1334117921&sr=8-12

A couple of etsy cuties!!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58811332/personalized-stephen-joseph-lunch-box?ref=sr_gallery_17&ga_search_query=lunch+boxes&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80191010/personalized-custom-summer-camp-lunch?ref=sr_gallery_33&ga_search_query=lunch+boxes&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade

Water bottles:

http://www.rei.com/product/830407/camelbak-kids-eddy-water-bottle-14-fl-oz

http://www.rei.com/product/802708/klean-kanteen-stainless-steel-water-bottle-with-sport-cap-27-fl-oz

Re usable baggies:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89588308/reusable-sandwich-bag-trees-and-snack?ref=sr_gallery_2&ga_search_query=reusable+baggies&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=6&ga_search_type=handmade


http://www.amazon.com/LunchSkins-Reusable-Sandwich-Snack-Bags/dp/B0050AYC9A/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1334118441&sr=1-1-spell


Thermos, for those rainy days!!!

http://www.rei.com/product/800102/klean-kanteen-stainless-steel-wide-mouth-vacuum-bottle-with-loop-top-cap-16-fl-oz

http://www.rei.com/product/808533/stanley-utility-vacuum-food-jar-18-fl-oz

Utensils:

http://www.amazon.com/To-Go-Ware-RePEaT-Reusable-Utensil/dp/B002BFUFA2/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1334118652&sr=1-3

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82059786/personalized-childrens-utensil-set?ref=sr_gallery_9&ga_search_query=lunch+utensils&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade

Cloth lunch napkins:
Packing these in your child's lunch just makes them feel special...  I always pack 2, one for to use as a placemat and the other to use as napkin!!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/95986825/cloth-napkins-10-inchset-of-4lunch?ref=sr_gallery_33&ga_ref=auto1&ga_search_query=cloth+lunch+napkins&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=US&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_type=handmade

http://www.etsy.com/listing/57741746/2d-zoo-animals-pair-of-cloth-lunch?ref=sr_gallery_17&ga_search_query=cloth+lunch+napkins&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=US&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=handmade

This will be an updated post, if there are any tricks to the lunch making trade you know feel free to leave a comment...  Tread Lightly!!!!