Healthy Brown Bag Lunches for Healthy Kids

We all want to make sure our children are eating healthy, and school lunches don't always seem like the way to go. I used to worry about what my children were eating at school, as well as the cost. In trying economic times, those lunches add up. My solution: brown bag lunches! They are healthier and cheaper.

Offering your child options is the first step to their healthy eating. I include fresh fruit and veggies of their choosing in their lunch. By shopping together, they're involved in their diet choices, and also get a chance to understand more about cost.

The old standby is peanut butter and jelly. But did you know jarred brands may contain sugars, partially hydrogenated oils, and high fructose corn syrup? With a little searching, you can probably locate a fresh peanut butter machine in your area. Try health food stores. It's simple; you watch as unsalted peanuts are ground up, and come out as creamy butter into your container. No sugars or additives, but plenty of flavor. Kids love it, and the cost is comparable to jarred brands. Preserves are a better alternative to jelly, and you can even use mashed berries. Yummy! Don't forget your whole grain bread; try different brands until your kids find one they like.

Leftovers are good too. We make sandwiches from roasts. Chef salads are a healthy choice as well.

Lastly, remember to give the kids a treat. Everyone needs a little fun food! I make an apple dip of 1 part peanut butter, 2 parts organic vanilla yogurt that the kids love.

The most important thing to remember for healthy lunches is fresh, unprocessed foods and your kids' involvement. If they care about what they eat, they will be healthier kids, and, eventually, healthier adults.
Good luck!