School is right around the corner! It's time for new pencils, paper, lunchboxes and teaching your kids what to put in their lunchboxes. Whether you buy or pack a lunch for your child, make sure to talk with them about healthy eating choices and trying new things. According to the School Nutrition Association:

• Children who eat a healthy school meal are more likely to stay focused and perform their best academically.
• Healthy eating correlates with fewer trips to the school nurse and less absenteeism.
• Students who pack a healthy lunch or plan to eat a healthy cafeteria lunch are less likely to gain weight during the school year.

If your child is buying a lunch, preview the lunch menu the night before with your child. Talk to your child about the food they like and allow them to make some choices on what they would like to eat. Suggest healthier choices, but remember that if you child doesn,t like it - they won't eat it! Encourage kids to choose cafeteria meals that include fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. When packing your child's lunch, make sure they are involved. Kids are more likely to eat all of their lunch if they were a part in planning it. Although giving your child a healthy lunch is the most important school supply, teaching your child how to pack a healthy lunch is an invaluable life skill that will lead to healthy eating habits in the future. Healthy Packing Tips:

• Use whole grain or wheat bread/wraps/pitas instead of white bread.
• Use baked chips, veggies and low-fat dip or air popped popcorn instead of fried chips.
• Include fresh cut fruits or fruit in natural juices instead of fruit cups with fruit in syrup.
• Don't include soda/pop in your child's lunch - try low-fat milk, water, or 100 percent fruit juice.
• Try to include food from the five major food groups - grains, fruits and vegetables, dairy foods, meat/fish/poultry and few fats/sugars.
• Be creative in including new lunch items as often as possible.

For more information on healthy school meals and our virtual interactive lunch box visit Live Healthy Lorain County.

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