Healthy and convenient sack lunches for kids

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is a paid advertiser of Sonoran Living Live

With kids donning their backpacks once again for the new school year, parents should be aware how important packing a healthy lunch is for their children. What's inside their brown bags can determine how well they concentrate in school and can help sustain their energy so that they are less likely to fall asleep at their desk.

Myrna Jacobson, nutrition specialist for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, indicates there are many different ideas parents can explore when packing a lunch, and there are a few other considerations to keep in mind.

One problem that many parents experience is making sure that their kids are, in fact, eating the healthy, nutritious meal that they packed for them. Kids are notorious for trading snacks, sharing, or grabbing a treat out of vending machines. But there are a few things that you can do to make sure they are more than satisfied with what they already have!

First of all, make sure that your kids actually like what you are sending with them. You can do this by involving them in the selection process and inviting them to the grocery store with you. This in itself can be a lesson because you can show them that healthy food is not necessarily boring or unappetizing. When they have the power to pick out their own lunch foods, they are more likely to turn down any tradeoffs at school.

Next, avoid being repetitive. Even though your child may love that peanut butter and jelly sandwich the first couple of times you make it, it doesn't mean they want to find one inside their lunchbox every day. Mix things up by switching up the traditional sandwich by making a stuffed mini pita; it's as easy as making a sandwich but it's a change, too.

Some other easy and healthy ideas are turkey wraps, homemade pizza, and egg salad sandwiches. Also, make eating vegetables more enjoyable by pairing them with dips like guacamole and hummus!

Snacks are usually the item every kid is looking forward to in their lunch boxes. Some healthy snack options are string cheese, plain popcorn, graham crackers, and fruits like apples and grapes.

As far as drink choices go, water and milk are the best, but those can get a bit stale. Consider an occasional juice, but be sure to read the fine print and look for those that say 100-percent fruit juice. It contains a serving of fruit (obviously) and is a good source of Vitamins A and C, but is often packed with sugar and lacks the fiber of fruit-making it okay as an occasional treat, but not a daily inclusion.

The youth obesity rate has skyrocketed over the last 30 years, contributing to the growing diabetes problem. If we teach kids how to be healthy when they're young, they're more likely to be health-conscious adults in the future.

*This is not a medical recommendation, anyone with concerns or questions about their health should contact their physician. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is a paid advertiser of Sonoran Living Live