Brown bag lunch or school cafeteria lunch?
This question is not an easy one to answer. Only you can make that decision based on your school's menu, your household economy, time available to make lunches and your child's eating habits.
Brown bag lunch -
Food allergies or certain health conditions such as Type 1 diabetes or even asthma may be a problem for some that makes it necessary to make a lunch every day. Others may believe in the nutritional power of organics and would like to provide fresh, organic food for their children every day. Still others may have picky eaters and know that the school cafeteria food may not always appeal to their children so a brought lunch is a necessity. For some fun ways to dress up the "brown bag lunch" and make it more eco-friendly, check out Laptop lunches, Eco lunch boxes, Lunch bots, Fresh snack pack and Mimi the sardine. These companies are all local and offer fun, green and safe alternatives to the standard lunch box.
School cafeteria lunch-
But, many parents will opt for the cafeterial lunch for convenience or the belief that a hot lunch is better than a soggy sandwich that may not be eaten. And, there is a new focus on school nutrition at the federal level. According to an article in The New York Times, "The Department of Agriculture is expected to upgrade school food nutrition standards this year, many of which haven’t been changed for nearly 15 years." Congress is looking at banning trans fats in cafeteria kitchens and reviewing proposals to re-equip kitchens to prepare healthier food. "A recent School Nutrition Association study showed that over 80 percent of schools cook fewer than half of their entrees from scratch." Much of this emphasis on healthy foods within the schools is due to President Obama's agenda to improve school nutrition. The First Lady is also actively promoting better school nutrition.
Both brown bag lunch and school cafeteria lunch-
If you want to find a happy balance between your child's desire for chicken nuggets, pizza and hamburgers every week for lunch and your own desire for fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats, you could combine the brown bag lunch and a cafeteria lunch. Once school starts, check your school's monthly lunch menu and post it on the fridge. There may be some selections that both you and your children agree on. This would give them the opportunity to get a hot lunch a few days and a brown bag lunch the rest of the month. Everyone is happy!
