How You Can Encourge Your School Going Kids to Eat Healthier Food in 2011

Here are some steps to perform a lunch makeover. These small changes do make a nutritional difference:

1. Encourage your kids to choose restaurant meals that include fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains, such as whole wheat bread instead of white.

2. Avoid fried foods when possible.

3. Choose low-fat milk or water as a drink.

4. Instead of peanut butter and jelly, consider pitas or wrap sandwiches stuffed with grilled chicken or veggies

5. Instead of Higher-fat lunch meats, consider Lower-fat deli meats, such as turkey

6. Instead of White bread, consider whole-grain breads (wheat, oat, multi-grain)

7. Instead of Mayonnaise, consider Light mayonnaise or mustard

8. Instead of fried chips and snacks, consider baked chips, air-popped popcorn, trail mix, veggies and dip

9. Instead of Fruit in syrup, consider fruit in natural juices or fresh fruit

10. Instead of cookies consider Trail mix, yogurt, or homemade baked goods such as oatmeal cookies.

11 Instead of fruit drinks and soda consider Low-fat milk, water, or 100% fruit juice.