Posted on: July 22, 2009

Think Outside The Lunchbox

When school lunch offerings don't set a good eating example for your kids, what's a parent to do? Here are 7 ways to get your child to eat better at school without forcing them to pack a lunchbox

By Jessica Abels
CTW Features

The situation is a familiar one: each morning you break your frenzied routine to dig through the pantry, trying to find the perfect combination of nutritious foods to include in your child's lunch box. And what do you receive in return? A frustrated eye roll and some variation on "I hate taking lunch everyday" or "Why can't I just eat pizza like all the other kids?" Good news, parents: According to a recent study released by Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Mich., cafeteria food may actually be healthier than that lunch you're packing. If you're still concerned, these tips from school nutrition experts can help you be sure your child is eating well - and ditch those embarrassing brown bags.

Plan It Out

"One of the best things to do is for parents to sit down and talk about what's on the lunch menu," says Alexis Steines, a public affairs associate with the School Nutrition Association, Alexandria, Va. "You may not necessarily want your kids eating pizza every day, but schools offer a variety of options, so sit down with them and say 'this is something you could consider picking for lunch today or for lunch tomorrow.'"

Check Up On Choices

A lot of schools, actually the vast majority of programs, are using technology to track what children are picking in the lunch line, Steines says. "When parents go online and when they put money on the student's meal card, they can see what the student has purchased with the money to make sure their kids are selecting the healthiest items," she says.

Learn to Speak Labels

For older children, one of the most effective ways to ensure healthy choices in an a la carte cafeteria is to teach them how to read labels. Tell them to stay away from anything with trans fat, hydrogenated oils, partially hydrogenated oils and high-fructose corn syrup, says Ann Cooper, interim director of nutrition services for the Boulder Valley School District, Colorado, and nationally recognized Renegade Lunch Lady. "And if you do eliminate those, then add to that dyes, colorings and additives, and you'll be eating things that are pretty healthy," she says.

Walk the Walk

When it comes to setting an example, Cooper's message is clear. "Here's the deal," she says. "You want your kids to eat healthy? Turn off the TV, eat with them, cook with them, go shopping, make them part of the process and walk the walk yourself. You can't be sitting on the couch with a bowl of chips and a coke and a bag of candy and telling your kids to go eat apples. You've got to walk the walk."

Reinstate the Treat

"It's OK to have celebratory food and treat yourself, but that's not everyday food and I think we have to learn the difference," Cooper says. "And if celebratory food is a soda and chips, OK, great, it's celebratory. That means it's once a week or once a month. I love foie gras and champagne but I don't eat it every day, I eat it once or twice a year, and if we can start thinking of junk food in the same way, that's what's really important. We really have to have kids be part of the process and understand that we're either going to pay now or pay later."

Do Your Homework

If there is still a concern that your child's school is serving unhealthy food, Cooper says the first thing to do is examine the district's wellness policy. As of September 2006, every school district has been required to have one in place. "Usually you can find them online, but if not you can go to the school board and ask for it and read it," Cooper says. "Then go and eat lunch in your child's school. See what the lunches are and if what they're serving is actually what you want to be feeding your kid."

Strength In Numbers

In the event that the food you encounter is not healthy or compliant with the wellness policy, Cooper suggests taking action. "Get a bunch of like-minded parents together and go back to the school board and say, 'Look, here's the policy and it says you're going to be serving healthy food, and here's the food (either bring them the food or take pictures of the food), and say this is unacceptable, we want better food for our kids. Parents really have tremendous power, and I think that's one of the great ways to start to make change."

Dealing with Food Allergies

If your child has food allergies, "The key is to speak to the school nutrition director," says Alexis Steines, a public affairs associate with the School Nutrition Association. For severe allergies, be sure to have a joint conversation with the nutrition director and the school nurse to develop a plan of action should your child have a reaction.

It's also important to know your rights. According to Steines, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) nondiscrimination regulation (7 CFR 15b), as well as the regulations governing the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, make it clear that substitutions to the regular meal must be made for children who are unable to eat school meals because of their disabilities, when that need is certified by a licensed physician.

For children with intolerances but not certified allergies, Steines says the school food service may make food substitutions, at their discretion, for individual children who do not have a disability, but who are medically certified as having a special medical or dietary need. Such determinations are only made on a case-by-case basis. This provision covers those children who have food intolerances or allergies but do not have life-threatening reactions (anaphylactic reactions) when exposed to the food(s) with which they have problems.