While parents are preparing their kids to get back into the school day routine, they should also be encouraging healthy eating routines.
Whether bringing or buying lunch, it is important for children to consume healthy foods, which gives them plenty of energy for the day.
Guilford County School System’s lunch menus list numbers beside the daily options, which indicate the amount of carbohydrates in each food item.
Parents should teach their children to avoid picking all high-number items. If preparing your child’s lunch at home, try to incorporate more fiber, and lower amounts of sugar and sodium.
High-fiber foods, such as wheat bread instead of white bread, will keep your children fuller, for longer.
Deli meats tend to have high-sodium contents, so choose low-sodium packaged meats and/or use fewer slices when making the sandwich.
Avoid pairing sandwiches with foods high in simple sugars and/or carbohydrates.
Also, try encouraging your children to drink water with their meals, rather than juice or other sugary drinks.
Choosing healthy snacks is also important, especially for student athletes. Snacks should include a balance of carbohydrates and protein, such as a banana with peanut butter.
If training for sports, snacks should be eaten before and after practice to replenish nutrients in the body.
Hydrate with water rather than Gatorade or other sports drinks to avoid consuming unnecessary amounts of sugar and sodium. Proper nutrition is imperative for your child’s health and development.
Fortunately, Cone Health Nutrition and Diabetes Management Center has an exceptional team of registered dieticians dedicated to educating families in the community on making nutritional choices and promoting healthy lifestyles.
Sara Himmelrich is a registered dietician at Cone Health Nutrition and Diabetes Management Center, with experience in pediatric nutrition counseling. She received her Master of Science degree in nutrition from the University of North Carolina Greensboro in 2011. She has also served as co-director of nutrition services at Camp Carolina Trails for five years, a program funded through the American Diabetes Association for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
For more information on Cone Health pediatric services, visit http://www.conehealth.com/Pediatrics or call 33-832-6100.
To reach Piedmont Pediatrics, call 336-272-9447.