It’s all very well looking after your heart as you age, but we all know that preventio n is better than cure. To give kids the best chance of living a long and healthy life, get them into good habits early on.
Now they're back to school, why not get to grips with the best tips for creating a healthy back-to-school lunchbox. Research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health states that a mere one in a 100 packed lunches meet the nutritional standards set for school meals in England.
Here’s how to give the kids a lunch they’ll enjoy, while keeping it healthy, to help them perform to their potential at school:
• Include plenty of protein to provide your kids with long lasting energy to keep up concentration levels. Great examples are skinless chicken or turkey, tuna, a boiled egg, lean ham and cheeses such as cottage or Edam
• Try humous because it is packed with nutrients, but not daily as it has high calorie content. Great ‘dippers’ are carrot sticks, cucumber and celery
• Be tight on spreads. Keep them to a minimum and if you use mayonnaise ensure it’s the light option
• Mix it up a bit by using alternatives to just bread such as bagels, baguettes, rolls and pittas
• Bite size fruit and vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, grapes, peppers, and strawberries all count towards their five a day, plus they are quick to prepare
• For a sweet taste that gives slow energy release try fruit like bananas, dried fruit like apricots, organic food bars and small sized yogurts
• Be sure to avoid ‘empty calories’ such as fizzy drinks and always check food labels to reveal any hidden ingredients
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