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10 Healthy Brown Bag Lunches for Kids & Adults
10 Healthy Brown Bag Lunches-
Be a healthy hero by opting to pack lunch for yourself and your children. Choosing to forego putting your kids in the cafeteria line or hitting the drive-through in favor of brown bagging it can help reduce your overall intake of sodium, saturated fat, refined grains and sugar. You'll save money in the long run, too!
Every packed lunch, whether for mom, dad or junior should include these five health-conscious staples, according to Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD at the Cleveland Clinic:
1. 100-percent whole grains, such as whole wheat bread, pasta or brown rice
2. One fruit
3. One vegetable
4. Protein, such as yogurt, string cheese or chicken breast
5. Nuts
When preparing children's lunches, Kirkpatrick advises parents to pay attention to portion control and to include a vegetable or a fruit, preferably both. "Americans' consumption of fruits and veggies is dismal; getting one of them in at lunch time is a must," she says. She also encourages parents to involve their children in the lunch-making process to ensure they like what's being prepared.
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Don't go overboard on portions; use these easy, per-serving measurements:
1. Fruits and veggies should be one handful.
2. Meat should be the size of a deck of cards.
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