Bad Bag Lunches - Connecting with Kids

Bad Bag Lunches

Every day, 26 million kids sit down at noontime in their school and have lunch. Thanks to federal law, the lunches they get from the school cafeteria is at least moderatly healthy. But the same rules don’t apply to what parents put in a child’s lunchbag.

Pre-packaged lunches, with brand names like “lunchables”, “lunchmates” and “quick bites” are a popular choice among parents. Mom Jill Devallette agreed they’re “quick and easy for them to eat … and it looks better than what I serve, it looks more fun.”

But that extra “fun” comes with additional fat. Pre-packaged lunches contain, on average 37 percent of their calories from fat. “And often they’re lacking in nurtional value, they’re not well balanced meals.“ said nutritionist Page Love.

That’s more fat than even allowed by Federal guidelines, which limit the food the cafateria serves to 30 percent calories from fat.

But, as too many parents know, attempts to pack healthier foods often fails, because kids will trade or trash the good stuff. “mainly vegetables and fruits and stuff” said 10 year old Hanna.

What Parents Should Know

The combination of picky kids and busy parents has combined to create a virtual gold mine for pre-packaged lunch companies. Last year, the industry racked up sales of more than 500 million dollars. The “Lunchable” brand alone has sold 1.6 billion pre-packed snacks since the brands inception in 1989. Sales are on the increase an average of 15 percent per year.

But, the convenience of pre-packaged lunches comes at what cost to children’s health? One thing is certain. Kids are tipping the scales at higher levels than earlier this decade. In 1991, the percentage of young adults considered to be obese was 7.1 . By last year, that figure had bloated to 12.1 percent. While obesity can sometimes be traced to genetics, many kids don’t naturally have something that parents can provide: Will Power.

Teaching a child will power means parents have to sacrifice too. As is the case in other areas… being a good role model for healthy eating is essential.

“(We throw away the healthy foods) all the time, mainly vegetables and fruits and stuff”

-- Hannah, age 10

If you can't beat 'em...

Experts said one way to compete with the “fun” foods that kids may see at the store is to dress up the foods you pack in the lunch bag.. “Cut a smiley face in their sandwich.” suggested Love.

There are also colorful, fun-looking pre-packaged foods that are high on the healthy scale. Fresh cut carrots, for instance, can be found packaged in bags adorned with characters from the Loony Toons cartoons.

Nutrition Knowledge

It is important to pack a healthy lunch for your kid, but it is also important to teach a kid how to eat healthy. Allowing your child to help choose the ingredients for his lunchbox will help build healthy eating habits along with healthy bones.

Parents offering a wide-range of healthy choices will more likely satisfy a child’s taste buds. While packing, experts recommended that parents slide a bit of nutrition knowledge to the conversation. Explaining things from the four basic food groups to the value of certain vitamins and minerals will benefit a child. The more a child knows about nutrition, the healthier an adult he will likely become.

Resources

USDA Food and Nutrition Service
www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/

Family Food Zone
www.familyfoodzone.com

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