A to M Back to School - Food 1

Food is an important part of your child's life. Children who eat nutritious food are healthier and do better in school. Here are some ideas to ensure your child eats well and learns about food.

A - After School snack - They're back home and they're hungry. What can you make them?

Something simple and hot. Corn on the cob is great. Just pop it in the microwave 4 minutes husk and all. Then cut the husks off. Serve in butter or for something different try olive oil.

Soup is a wonderful after school snack, especially if your child didn't have a hot lunch. Michael Vyskocil also has other snack ideas in this article.

Hot chocolate milk, made from real milk is great drink for children. Many kids just won't drink plain milk so chocolate is good alternative just make sure the chocolate mix is low on sugar.

Children can make a lot of their own after school snacks like the perennial favorite banana peanut butter sandwich. If they can't have peanuts at school because other children have allergies but they don't, then peanut butter becomes an after school treat. Instead of sandwiches try bugs on logs - take celery, spread peanut butter on top and then sprinkle on the bugs - raisins. Kids can do this, themselves.

Jaqueline Church has some great ideas about Cooking with Kids

Or try a cold strawberry pizza. If strawberries aren't in season use whatever fruit is.

You can also make pizzas with pita bread (watch for Part 2) or English muffins in the microwave.

B- Breakfast - It's difficult getting children to eat breakfast they will tell you that they're just not hungry. So have them make their own fruit drink - all you need is a blender some bananas and whatever fruit your child likes and just blend it. Yogurt and fruit is simple and fast.

Serve whatever healthy food your children do like. If they like yesterdays dinner there's no reason you why you can't serve that. Breakfast doesn't have to be eggs, or cereal, it can be anything healthy.

If your child still won't eat breakfast send them to school with healthy energy bar to eat on their way to school or at recess.

Here are some of my breakfast ideas:

Spinach Omelet

Pancakes

I did a poll and discovered that the readers favorite meal was breakfast Unfortunately most children don't share this view.

Brunch Index includes Breakfast ideas

C- Cafeteria Food - What kind of food does your school serve? Is it nourishing? Are there choices for vegetarians? Does your school sell pop? Inspect the school cafeteria and find out what they are eating. If the choices aren't healthy then go to those PTA meetings and complain. If we serve our children junk everyday, we're saying that's all our children deserve. What children eat at lunch at school is important, they need healthy food in order to learn and grow. Children who get healthy food will do better in school. See letter J - about how one man made a difference.

D- Diets aren't for children. If your child is overweight, see your doctor or a nutritionist. Children can't be on the same diets as adults, as they have different dietary needs. Find out about healthy food and a good exercise program.

E- Education not just theirs but also yours. Now that the kids are in school this is a good time to take those Continuing Education Cooking Classes for yourself. Find out about cooking and food classes at community centers, night schools, and your local college.

F- Field Trips can be educational as well as fun. Suggest to teachers and principals food related field trips like farm visits, bakeries, or food factories. Food is a large part of your child's life so its important that they know where food comes from and how its made.

G- Greens . Yes, it's sometimes a real challenge to get children to eat greens. But you can't give up, keep on giving them lettuce in sandwiches, salads and anything else you can think of. Many children who don't like most greens love string beans or peas. If you are persistent they will eat them, but you can't force them to eat greens just find the ones they like.

Here are some of my green suggestions:

Parsley

Asparagus

Spinach

Salads There are many different kinds of salads and if a child helps make the salad they're more likely to eat them.

H- Home Economics Classes . Most high schools do teach Home Economics but it's an elective. Sadly, the kitchens are often ill equipped with little money for good fresh food. Often the recipes used don't reflect modern cultural diversity. Find out what these classes are like at your school and see what you can do to help. This should be compulsory; every child should learn how to cook, as it is an important life skill. Go to the PTA meetings talk to the principal make sure that Home Economics is a priority. If your child is serious about food and wants to pursue it as a career they're might be schools he/she can transfer to close by. Consult the school counselor.

I -Ice packs Trust our own Party Expert Carrie Grosvenor to understand the importance of Ice packs to keep whatever you want in your child's boxed lunch cold, especially if your packing meat. They make really small ice packs now.

J- Jamie Oliver is my hero! He's a young television celebrity chef in England who was disgusted by the cafeteria choices at the schools and did something about it. He started a crusade for nutritious food. He got the British government to spend more on school lunches, and to teach nutrition in the classroom. If you can watch his show on the Food NetWork, talk to your children about what Jamie Oliver is doing. Talk to your school about healthy food in the cafeteria and about teaching nutrition in the classroom. Find out if there are any organizations, local chefs, nutritionists and educators in your area who are interested in this issue.

K- Kaiser Buns just for something bit different from the usual bread in the lunch box. For the first day back at school or on the child's birthday or some other occasion you might consider Kaiser buns. Or try my bun recipe

L - Lunch I have three children of my own and I remember what it was like trying to find something just a bit different for the kid's lunches. It's a real challenge. But Carrie Grosvenor had some great ideas: cheese & crackers, or those miniature bagels and croissants. Crackers can be whole wheat and low sodium. Try out different cheeses. Try a variety of spreads and see what your children like. Go shopping with them and ask them what they want in lunch box. Explain that you're looking for healthy foods and stick to those. Read the information on the back of the box and as best you can explain it to your children.

Jaqueline Church our resident Gourmet Guru suggests, "Onigiri are rice balls. They can come wrapped in nori (seawead) or inarizushi (sweetened fried pressed tofu pockets). Perfect for lunchboxes or picnics.

They're fun to make and kids love to eat things they make with their own hands.

Also, Bento is a good source of info on Japanese food generally."

Also from Carrie here are some snacks you can make up in bulk and put in the lunch box. She also has yummy sandwiches in Back to School Party Part 2

Or how about Linda Larson's a fun healthy snack like Apricot bars.

For my brown bag ideas check out School lunch ideas

In Part 2 I'll have sushi, wraps, pita bread and yogurt - great lunch alternatives.

Brunch Index

M- Muffins for breakfast, in the lunch box or after school - what could be better? They're so easy to make and kids love to help make them. There are so many different kinds. Here are some muffin recipes:

Raspberry Vanilla Yogurt Muffins

Blue Berry muffins

Orange Blue Berry Muffins

Here's N to Z Back to School Part 2

If you like the Alphabet like I do here's Picnics A-Z

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