TOPS Offers Back-To-School

Healthy Lunch Tips

MILWAUKEE, WIS. — Before the school bells start ringing again, parents can consider nutritious lunches to pack for their children. The following “School Rules” were written by a Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) dietitian. A local chapter of TOPS meets weekly in Newtown.

Registered dietitian Dena McDowell, MS, CD, nutritional expert for TOPS Club, Inc, says parents can expand a child’s food horizons and provide a better range of vitamins and nutrients on a daily basis by following these tips:

Let kids make the assignments. Ms McDowell explains that a child may feel empowered and more apt to try new food combinations if he or she is part of the planning process. Together, find recipes for new sandwiches, soups, and trail mixes to get ideas. Have children identify the items that need to be purchased and, with their help, create a grocery list. At the store, point out different cheeses, low-fat yogurts, and low-fat cottage cheese. Have them “hunt” for foods that are rich in whole grains, like whole wheat flour, bran, or oats. Try selecting a few protein options such as natural peanut butter, cheese, lean deli meats, hummus, refried beans, nuts, and seeds.

For lunch 101 lessons, Ms McDowell, who also is a mom, has this advice:

Trying a new recipe or a new food can sometimes make a child lose their appetite. Offer the new item along with some of the foods that he or she will eat. Identify dairy products, fruits, and veggies that get a thumbs-up, and make sure to include these in the lunch. Encourage the child to try the new foods before digging into the foods he or she regularly eats.

If a child is helping to pack lunches, teach the child that balance is important. Aim to include a protein-rich food (lean meat, cheese, eggs, beans, nuts, seeds, or yogurt), a dairy-rich food (milk, yogurt, or cheese), a fruit, a veggie, and some whole grains. Also, remember that the more color is present in the meal, the more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants it contains. Include at least three different, naturally colored foods.

Some suggestions for new combinations:

*Hummus with pita chips or whole wheat crackers, carrots, orange slices, and low-fat milk.

*Pita stuffed with lean deli ham, low-fat cheese and lettuce, pear, yogurt, and low-fat milk.

*Trail mix (nuts, dried fruit, pretzels, whole -grain cereal, and/or chocolate chips), veggies and low-fat dip, banana, and low-fat milk.

*Yogurt with granola and mixed berries, vegetable juice, and whole grain crackers with low-fat cheese.

TOPS Club, Inc is a nonprofit weight-loss education and support organization that was founded more than 60 years ago to champion weight-loss support and success. Founded and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., TOPS promotes successful weight management with a philosophy that combines healthy eating, regular exercise, wellness education, and support from others at weekly chapter meetings.

A local chapter of TOPS meets at Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street. Call 426-6224 (ask for Betty) or 264-3728 (ask for Krista). The weight loss support group meets every Monday, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm (weigh-ins 5:45–6:15, meetings 6:30–7:30). Meetings cost $2 a week and membership costs $24 per year.