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Back to School Lunches

Some tips to help parents packing lunches for back to school and tips on how to pack for those picky eaters.

Back to school means back to school lunches for parents in Oxford County. 

Registered Dietician for SouthWestern Public Health Kelly Ferguson says you don't want to forget the protein. 

"Protein rich foods help to keep us full for longer and they are a really good thing to pack, so ideas for that could be milk, cheese or yogurt or you can use meat or meat alternatives like beans, hummus dip, egg, chicken or any meat leftover from supper the night before." 

Ferguson says you should have 3 or 4 food groups represented everyday and she really stresses the importance of fruits and vegetables. One thing to avoid is pre-packaged foods, as they often contain more sugars. Ferguson also offers this advice for parents with picky eaters. 

"My number one advice for parents with picky eaters is to get the kids involved in packing the lunch. We know that kids who are involved in making decisions about what foods are in their lunch are more likely to eat their lunch. It is also a great opportunity for kids to develop some meal planning skills and food preparation skills. Even young kids can help decide if they want cucumber or carrots in their lunch. Making those little decisions can help them buy into their lunch and older kids can start to be involved in preparing their sandwiches and make kind of larger meal planning decisions." 

Ferguson says you should avoid sending kids to school with any kind of sugary drinks and recommends white milk or packing a reusable water bottle. Another thing to consider is to check with the school beforehand to see if any foods are banned at the school because of allergies. 

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