Make Back to School Lunches with Safety in Mind

If your children enjoy bringing their lunches to school, follow these simple ways to be sure that foods brought from home are safe to eat.

1. You'll Need a Few Basic Items.  Invest in some basic tools for keeping foods safe.  Look for sales on insulated lunch bags or lunch boxes, insulated containers for keeping foods hot, and gel freezer packs to keep foods cold.
2. Clean, Clean, Clean!  Before you start preparing lunches-to-go, wash your hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.  Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and countertops, too.  Keep family pets away from the food preparation area.
3. No Contamination, Please!  Bacteria can spread to counters, cutting boards, and utensils.  Use one cutting board for meat and chicken, and another cutting board for fresh produce.
4. Keep Cold Foods Cold!  Perishable foods (foods that need to be kept cold) include meat, chicken, and eggs.  Use two cold sources -- either two frozen gel packs or one frozen gel pack and a frozen beverage.  Place the cold sources under and above perishable foods to keep them cold.  If you pack lunches in the evening for the next day, store foods separately in the refrigerator and pack lunch bags in the morning.  Or keep packed lunches with the lid open in the refrigerator until your children leave for school.
5. Keep Hot Foods Hot!  Fill insulated containers with boiling water and let stand for a few minutes.  Empty the water and then add the heated food.  Insulated containers are great for keeping foods like soup and chili hot.
6. Lunchtime Cleanup.  Teach your children to throw away any leftovers and food packaging after lunch.

Even young children can help with making and packing lunches.  Find appropriate tasks that each child can do successfully.  Working together provides an opportunity for you to help your children develop cooking skills and learn safe food preparation practices.

For more information about food safety, visit: 
www.foodsafety.gov
www.fightbac.org/safe-food-handling/safety-in-all-seasons/129-bac-to-school-pack-a-safe-lunch-101

New School Lunch Standards

 

If you've ever heard the saying "Eat the Rainbow", it's a simple reminder to eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables each day.  Eating food of different colors is an easy way to get all the vitamins, minerals, and fiber our bodies need.  Limiting fats, sugar and salt reduces the risk of weight gain, and poor health.  As a general rule, make fruits and vegetables part of a healthy plate every day and eat less, fat, sugar and salt.

School-aged children across the nation have the option to eat the rainbow and eat healthier as a result of new school lunch standards.  The final standards include the following:

• Fruits and vegetables served each day.
• More whole grain foods.
• Serving fat-free and low-fat milk.
• Child-sized portions.
• Less fat and salt in school meals.

The new standards will effect school breakfast, lunch and vending machines.  The standards first went into effect July 1, 2012 and schools were given three years to phase-in the changes, starting with the 2012-2013 school year.  These new school meal standards will greatly impact the health and nutrition of school children across the nation.  Parents can get involved by reading the school lunch menu with their kids and talking about the healthy foods listed.  Parents will also play an important role in this national effort as role models.  Set an example for your children and show them the importance of eating the rainbow!

Picky Eater or Just Learning to Try New Foods?

 

If your child refuses to eat certain foods or does not want to taste something new, they're not alone!  Children don't always like new foods right away.  They might need your help in learning to like new foods.  Here's how!

• Be a good role model.  Do you enjoy fruits and veggies or other healthy foods?  Include them in your meals and show your children how much you like them!  Talk about what you like -- the taste or the texture or even the color!
• Be patient.  Remember that your child might need to try a new food up to 15 times before they like it and eat it every time you give it to them.
• Keep trying!  Give your child small amounts of fruits and vegetables even if they do not eat them at first.  Offer your children small amounts of new foods so that you do not waste food.
• Try making the new food in different ways.  Make up a silly name for the new food or sing a little song about it; your child is more likely to be curious and try it!
• Pair a new food with a favorite food.  Serve a new fruit or veggie as a snack when your child is hungry.
• Give children small amounts to taste or play with at first.  This can be as small as a spoonful of peas or cooked carrots, a piece of an apple, or one section of an orange.

Children love to help in the kitchen, so include them when preparing a new food.  Let them help get foods read to cook or eat like tearing up lettuce, scrubbing veggies before cooking, or mixing ingredients for a dish.

Once a month, take your child to the grocery store and let them pick out a new fruit or veggie, then make it for dinner that night.  If everyone gets excited about something new, everyone will have a tasty treat ahead!

For more information and tips about parental feeding practices, visit:

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/corenutritionmessages/especially_for_moms_page.htm