Anatomy of a
LUNCH
BOX When kids head back to school, it is time again for parents to pack their lunch boxes. And while lunch box foods need to be easy, healthy, and portable, they must also satisfy each kid’s tastes — not always an easy task. Keeping in mind that food is fuel and one of the main goals is that they eat their lunch, it is also important to include a variety of the right kinds of foods for optimum health. With busy schedules, it may
by Annissa Anderson, for The Bulletin Special Projects Photos by Nicole Werner
be tempting to load up on pre-packaged foods to toss into school lunches. But buying processed lunch items can lead to an excess of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, additives and preservatives in a child’s diet. Kids who eat a large amount of processed foods also adopt a taste for sugary, salty and fatty foods. The earlier they start eating fresh, whole foods, the easier it is to form lifelong healthy eating habits. For current nutritional standards, look no further than the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s nutrition guide for
When packing lunch for your children, be mindful of both variety and nutrition. Lunch box (above) courtesy of Matt Skeels and available at Iron Horse Antiques in Bend.
16 | Autumn 2013 | U MAGAZINE