School Lunches....Yummy and Delicious

In the countdown to school, our attention now turns to the daily task of what to serve our children for lunch keeping in mind that anything we make should enhance brain, memory, mood and attention - all critical to learning success... As parents, we set the standard... Food is not about filling our stomachs with whatever is at hand. It is about giving what our bodies need for optimum health and higher order thinking. What we like has nothing to do with eating. It is about what the body needs!

Every bite counts when feeding our children. Their appetites are small. With distractions and giggling in the lunchroom, we must ensure that our child eats well  and safely in as short a period of time as possible. Time and time again we are told to include raw fruits and vegetables- live enzymes-, in our diet to keep our bodies functioning at peak efficiency.

Simple, easy to make and yummy sandwiches in bite sized pieces can be made on weekends and frozen till the following week... As mentioned in Wonder(ful) Bread, sandwiches can be made to a high standard using everyday foods such as eggs, salmon, tuna and ham. Adding a healthy binding mixture –(mayonnaise, mustard, a drop of apple cider vinegar) to the drained meat-ham, salmon, or tuna- creates exciting new additions to your child’s lunch itinerary. Be mindful of lunch temperatures using a frozen pack or frozen sandwiches which will then thaw and be ready to eat.

Include herbs and spices designed to bring subtle flavour and health benefits when making sandwich fillings and other 'mixed' foods....Spices, such as turmeric(found in mustard), onion powder and herbs such as fresh dill, cilantro, parsley, green onions and/or chives, all help to provide a wealth of added health benefits to your child’s lunch.  For the adventurous child, adding dried chopped fruits such as: cranberries, raisins to the fillings can make the mundane, exciting.  

Use mayonnaise sparingly with the addition of mustard to the above spices and herbs. Keep added fats, whether it be margarine, butter or mayonnaise to an absolute minimum... All canned salmon, tuna, ham have salt added. Drain the product well. Rinse with a bit of water and drain again. Adding a bit of apple cider vinegar to the tin and draining one final time helps to remove more salt while leaving behind the healthful benefits of vinegar. Adding the mayonnaise mixture just to moisten helps to keep fat content low. (Remember, healthy breads also have incredible flavour and taste.)

The making of fruit compotes also provides yet another delicious level of nutrition, giving our children an extra boost of vitamins and minerals during their school day. Chopped fruit mixed with orange juice/lemon helps keep it fresh in the insulated lunch bag ready to eat.  

Chips, cookies or chocolate bars can be a shared, once in a while event.  Including them daily adds to the build up of deleterious substances in the body that a developing child simply does not need.  Allowing a once in a while sharing treat day helps to make lunch time at school a  fun experience for all.