Healthful school lunches

It's hard to keep tabs on what children eat when they’re at school. Lunch foods get traded or go uneaten in favor of more recess time.

If the school provides a lunch menu calendar, review it with your child and agree on days when he or she can buy a favorite meal.

• raw vegetables like baby carrots or cucumber slices
• fresh fruit like bananas, apples or oranges
• pre-peeled fruit or veggie slices
• nuts and dried fruit
• bean dip with pita slices or toasted tortilla chips
• bottled water or fruit juice
• tortilla wraps

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Nutrition: For children & teens

First published: 12/24/2000
Last updated: 09/06/2006

Reviewed by: Paul Kleeberg, MD, medical director, Allina.com