What's for Lunch?

Today my children started back to school. To say it was an exciting morning would be an understatement!

Besides establishing a new (and earlier) morning routine, we had to make sure we had backpacks together and lunch bags packed. The thought of balancing out those packed lunches with occasional hot meals from the cafeteria was appealing. So once I got them to school and settled in their classes, I went to the cafeteria to check out the lunch menu.

As you can imagine, there were some healthy options and some that weren't so healthy. At least having the menu allowed me to see what was being offered.

An article I read recently from the Columbus Dispatch, discussed how lax oversight and tight budgets in the National School Lunch Program have contributed to schools serving low-cost, often unhealthy foods to students.

The United States Department of Agriculture requires schools to provide a certain number of items from each food group, but doesn't provide guidance regarding the nutritional content of these foods or how they should be prepared (thus, tater tots as a vegetable).

There are some schools that have started offering healthier options (e.g. salad bars, fresh produce, low-fat milk, reduced fat macaroni and cheese, etc.), and I hope that all schools will find a way to follow this trend.

If you have the opportunity to get involved with your school's wellness committee (or other organization), I would encourage you to participate. It may help to influence what's being served for lunch and breakfast.

It's also a good idea to check the school menu to see what's being served to your children. And if you're packing lunches, providing the healthiest options possible will make you feel good about what you're giving them.

A healthy lunch, combined with a healthy breakfast, will give your children (and mine) the energy they need to learn and be active throughout the day.

Take care and God bless,

Dayo N. Lanier, M.D.