A quick scan around the cafeteria during lunchtime shows that many of our children are packing a poorly balanced lunch. Crackers, popcorn, chips and cookies are plentiful while fruits and vegetables are not quite as common. And while this is not unusual in many American lunches, it is also not healthy.
Many kids (and adults) tend to base their meals on starches, such as breads, crackers, pastas, and chips. The problem is that these starches are often in excess in diets, especially among children who frequently snack on starches. Eating excess starches also displaces other foods such as fruits, vegetables, and proteins which are usually lacking in diets. Change this habit early on and teach your child basic healthy meal planning with the Fruit-Vegetable-Protein (F-V-P) method.
When packing a lunch, the first three foods that should be chosen are the fruit, the vegetable, and the protein. Choosing these first underlines their importance in the diet and ensures that they are not forgotten. Your child may want their protein paired with a starch, such as with a ham sandwich (ham=protein, bread=starch) and that is okay. The important thing is that the protein is chosen first and the starch is added on.
Print off this handout to help send your child to school with a F-V-P that has been packed with some TLC.