An estimated 22 million students will attend today’s opening of classes in the public elementary and high schools nationwide.
I wonder how many moms are beating the “back to school blues” especially in preparing packed lunch or ‘baon’ for their kids every single day.
Most moms wouldn’t settle for less when it comes to preparing healthy meals for their children. I stumble these tips from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology, long ago. I refer to these tips every time I run out of ideas to perk up the meals I prepare for my own school-age kids.
* Think about you child’s ‘baon’ ahead. Healthy school lunches can be easy when you plan ahead. Plan your kids’ baon a week in advance and give them lots of healthy selections to choose from. This will teach them to develop the habit of making choices for themselves
* Packed lunches should have three or four food groups represented to fuel them through a lot of the school day’s activities, for example,
* Use a different sandwich filling each day (tuna, cheese, egg, or chicken). Preferably use whole grain breads and low fat mayonnaise or dressing. Add cut up vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, pipino (cucumber) for added fiber. Prepare sandwich fillings the day or night before to save time in the busy morning.
* Include milk and fruit juices for beverages. This will help assure your children of a nutritious drink and also save you needless expenses on carbonated beverages. If you include tetra pack fruit juice, keep it in the freezer then put directly in the lunch box – it will have thawed by lunchtime and will keep the rest of the food cool.
* Make sure your child is drinking safe, clean, and enough water.
* Be concerned with food safety when packing lunches. Use thermal/insulated lunch box to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. With a good thermal/insulated lunch box, there is no limit to the delicious, nutritious and safe packed lunches for your kids.
Monday
Fried Longganisa
Lettuce-Cucumber-Tomato Salad
Boiled Rice
Banana Fruit
Snack – Fried Banana/Camote
Tuesday
Chicken/Pork Adobo
Sauteed Abitsuelas
Boiled Rice
Fruit in Season
Snack – Egg Sandwich
Wednesday
Fish/Meat Omelette
Atsara
Boiled Rice
Orange Juice
Snack – Boiled Peanuts
Thursday
Beef Tapa
Fresh Tomatoes
Boiled Rice
Pineapple Juice
Snack -Chicken Sandwich
Friday
Fried Chicken/Breaded Pork chop
Buttered Vegetables
Boiled Rice
Fruit in Season
Snack – Fruit in Season