Going to school when I was a kid was fun in one aspect: I usually got a new lunch box every year to take my lunch in. Some of those boxes I had would be worth a mint today. But back then, it was just cool to have something other than a sack to take lunch in. Nowadays, kids hardly ever take their lunch, eating the standard cafeteria fare that is offered. But some parents still like to ensure their kids eat a balanced diet. Here are few suggestions.

Because kids can be so picky, packing a good lunch for your child can take a great deal of ingenuity. Not only do you have to find healthy, nutritious foods, but the foods have to taste good, too.

Talk to your kids about what they want to eat, and see if you can reach a compromise between flavor and nutritional value. Pack lunch foods in small portions that are easy to eat. Remember that children have smaller appetites and smaller hands and mouths that may make it difficult to eat large-sized foods. Include foods with varied tastes, textures, and colors. Include something salty, something sweet, and something sour, and try to have at least one crispy item and one chewy item. Pack a different meal every day, find creative substitutions for items and add something new to the lunch menu every week or two to keep your child from getting bored with his or her lunch.

Pack foods either in reusable plastic containers or in disposable plastic sandwich bags to keep everything together and sanitary. Wash all fruits and vegetables before packing. Know which foods need to be refrigerated before packing the lunch. Keep these and all unprocessed foods cold until the time of use. Keep bacteria from developing in the lunch box by keeping cold foods cold and separated from hot foods. This can be done by including ice packages in the lunch box and storing hot foods in insulated containers. Include whatever utensils will be necessary for the meal, along with a napkin. Clean lunch boxes and insulated containers every day. Use baking soda once a week to eliminate odors.

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Tags: lunchbox, school lunch