SAN DIEGO, Sept. 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With most children back at school, parents may be searching for ideas on how to prepare healthier lunches for their kids. During national "Fruit and Veggie - More Matters Month," Healthyroads, the total population health management subsidiary of American Specialty Health Incorporated, urges parents to pack a healthy "PUNCH" into school lunches this fall.
"A well-balanced diet is a foundation for a healthy lifestyle," said Elizabeth Thompson, MPH, RD, and vice president of Healthyroads Coaching® programs. ""Fresh vegetables and fruits have essential nutrients that every child needs. Building healthy habits into a child's life at an early age will only help them in the future."
To pack a healthy "PUNCH" into your kids school lunches, here are five tips to remember:
1. Playful
Lunch time should be fun for kids, so why not pick a playful, themed lunch? Try these examples:
- Create a color theme. For example, for green, include lettuce cups filled with lean turkey, cucumber, fresh spinach leaves and sliced green peppers. Include a green apple or grapes for a snack, and low-sugar lime Jell-O for dessert.
- Create a dinosaur or pirate theme: cut a sandwich into a dinosaur shape; a bed of lettuce becomes a dinosaur "nest;" a hardboiled egg is a dinosaur egg; and steamed broccoli becomes the forest where the dinosaur roams.
- Pack an alphabet-themed lunch. For example, a "P" lunch might incorporate a peanut butter pita sandwich with a peach, some peas and a small side of pudding.
2. Unusual
Just like adults, kids will get tired of the same sandwich day in and day out. Try switching it up so they can be surprised and look forward to the healthy meal they have waiting for them when the clock strikes noon.
- Make a healthy wrap instead of a sandwich by putting ingredients into a tortilla, pita bread or a large lettuce leaf.
- Switch up the sauces: try pesto or hummus on a sandwich instead of mayonnaise.
- Add a small treat such as applesauce or low-sugar yogurt so kids have something to look forward to at lunchtime.
3. New
Surprise your child with one new, healthy item each week, or as often as you can come up with them. Challenge him or her to try their surprise. You just might make your child a fan. Try these ideas:
- A different fruit, like figs, Asian pears, mango or kumquats
- A new snack, like dried fruit, or an energy bar
- A small thermos with a blended fresh fruit or veggie smoothie
4. Colorful and Crunchy
Add color and crunch to make lunch more interesting. Kids love to crunch when they chew, so add:
- Carrots, celery, peppers, cucumbers and pea pods. You can add a small serving of ranch, hummus, or low-fat salad dressing for them to use as a dip.
- Watermelon, apples, oranges, grapes and bananas are all colorful fruits that will add color to your child's lunch. Slicing the fruit in small pieces or fun shapes, like hearts, is a great way to make sure your child will snack the colors away.
5. Hearty
Although it's good to practice portion control with your child, kids still need a hearty lunch that will stay with them throughout the afternoon. As weather cools, pack a thermos or other thermal container filled with a hearty lunch, such as:
- A stew that is chock full of carrots, onions, lentils, or other hearty veggies.
- Chili with beans, tomatoes and onions
- A stir-fry that includes pea pods, carrots, peppers, baby corn and whole wheat noodles
- Vegetable lasagna
Jump-start your child's new healthy eating habits during fruit and veggie month in September, and your child will reap the benefits for a lifetime.
About Healthyroads
Healthyroads, Inc., a subsidiary of national health services company American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH), offers a wide range of population health solutions, including: award-winning telephone-based lifestyle and health coaching programs, member engagement promotion programs, program management, health risk assessment, biometric screenings, claims analytics, risk stratification, outreach, incentive management programs, competitive group challenges, worksite wellness programs and/or an integrated online wellness portal, Healthyroads.com. Healthyroads offers these programs to more than 5.5 million members nationally.
About American Specialty Health Inc (ASH)
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is a national health services organization that provides fitness and exercise programs, population health solutions and specialty health care programs for health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds. Headquartered in San Diego, with an operations center in Dallas, ASH has more than 900 employees and administers services for more than 31 million members. Additional products offered through ASH and its subsidiaries include Silver&Fit®, ExerciseRewardsTM and others. For more information about ASH, visit www.ASHCompanies.com or call 800-848-3555. Follow us on Twitter at @ASHCompanies or @Healthyroads and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Healthyroads or at http://www.facebook.com/SilverandFit.
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