School lunch an important meal

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 279, 21 March 1989, Page 18

School lunch an important meal

Children need good lunches. They burn up more energy for their size and are usually more active than adults.

Many teenagers burn up a great deal of energy too. A snack at morning break is usually necessary to keep energy

levels up. Fruit, bread and butter with savoury foods or vegemite or peanut butter make the best snacks at break and after school.

Sweet, sticky foods should be discouraged. Bread or rolls make an excellent everyday lunch. It doesn't matter too much what you put with them as most of the goodness comes from the bread itself,

not the filling. The main thing is that your child likes it and will eat it. Sandwiches and other bread snacks give energy but don't harm the teeth like sugary foods do. Pies, fish and chips,

pizza, sausage rolls and other hot foods which may be sold at school or the nearest shop also make a good lunch, but becausc of their high energy content should only be eaten occasionally by

normally active children. Cakes, soft drinks and sweets are high in fast burning energy, but don't have the staying power children need for school. Discourage these foods at

lunchtime. If your child does like sweet things then allow only one sweet food for lunch. Yogurt is also good for lunch. A piece of fruit, cheese, tomato or crunchy vegetable should be eaten last. Water and milk are best to drink as most others contain extra sugar. It doesn't take much to give your child a healthy lunch, and to give them the opportunity to learn how to eat properly from a young age. By doing this you are helping them to be and stay fit and healthy and this in turn creates better learning capacities for them at school. Give your a child that chance.

Helen

Pocknall

PHN