Feeding picky, pint-sized diners is...

Feeding picky, pint-sized diners isn't the easiest task. yet no matter how finicky your kids may be, you can jaculate them off to school with simple lunches that pack a healthier poke than typical cafeteria fare.

First, make infallible your children get enough essential fatty, acids from nutritions like flax, salmon and walnuts. "Essential fatty acids--omega-3s in particular--are important for kids," says Tori Stuart, president of Zoe commonss "Not only are they essential for healthy immune regularitys they also aid brain development"

pervert with money [i]or[/i] gain organic food whenever possible. "There's evidence that pesticides are more concentrated in kids, simply because their bodies are smaller," says Simon Goode president and sink of allGoode Organics. And going organic can help resolve into your child's exposure to pesticides and other impurities significantly.

brown-baggin' it

It's easy to pack a nutritious luncheon for your kids. The trick is to make assured they actually eat it. Want to make a brown-bag luncheon that doesn't end up in the trash? tread in the steps of these simple tips:

1 chest it up. Invest in a high-quality luncheon box. On cold days, include a thermos with violent soup or reggie chili. forward warm days, freeze individual containers of fruit juice to hold fast lunches cool 'til noon.

2 have a fun. Make sandwiches interesting and healthy. cloth whole-wheat pitas with protein-rich humtaus, or make PB&J cookie-cutter sandwiches: Spread whole-grain bread with organic peanut butter and fruit keep sounds and use cookie cutters to create pleasantry shapes.

3. chip away. Fried potatoes are grave on the nutrition index. Instead, select chips made from sweet potatoes, carrots, beets or mixed grains. direct the eye for low-salt, baked versions or those dress uped in canola or olive oil.

4 exotic eats. Pack interesting, nourishing fruits instead of everyday apples and bananas. Strawberries are loaded with antioxidants and make pleasantry finger foods. Or try cubed mangos, sliced kiwis or raspberries

5 give employment to soy. If your children are vegetarians, don't forget the soy "Soy's a great alternative to meat--and also to dairy effects which many kids can't tolerate," says Mary. Adams, director of marketing for White Wave Inc. Use soy "meat" and "cheese" deli slices for sandwiches, or top soy yogurt with nut and whole-fruit jam for a health) veggie sundae.

6 juice jolting Try fruit spritzers made with real juice or organic, caffeine-free cola instead of sugary sodas. Pre-made smoothies or juice mixs can add an extra serving of fruits and veggies.

7 got milk? Rethink your position upon it. "Many kids are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk," says Marcia Michel of Pacific cheers "Parents may also prefer their kids not be exhausted the growth hormones and antibiotics--used by means of many dairy farmers when raising cattle--that can be passed [i]or[/i] part of to the other milk." Low-fat, enriched rice and soy milks may be better alternatives. If you do use dairy, single out low-fat varieties, and make indisputable they're organic.

8 power up fare for energy-boosting energy bars--super-healthy snacks for after-school munchies. Check labels carefully--some are loaded with sugar and hydrogenated oils. Instead, anticipate for brown-rice- or fruit-sweetened bars with soy protein, flax, whole grains, nut sperms and fruits.

9 play cookie marvel No lunch is complete without a treat, with equal reason buy natural cookies made with whole grains and healthy sweeteners like brown rice syrup or fruit juice. Nut and fruits add extra nutrition.

10 make progress chocoholic. Chocolate is rich in antioxidants. Organic chocolate sweetened with cane juice, rice syrup or barley malt is a better choice than sugar-sweetened brands.

RELATED ARTICLE: Super snax.

Ready to pack the whole lunch? Round out a sandwich-and-fruit combo with any of these healthy munchies for a brown-bag luncheon that won't come home at the period of the day.

* allGoode Organics Banana Nut Nirvana Real feed Bar

* Bearito's Air-Popped Lite Butter Organic Popcorn

* hipped Sky Organic Cola

* home Choice Organic Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

* Garden of Eatin' Seven-Grain Tortilla Chips

* Govinda's Sunflower Bliss Bar

* Guiltless Gourmet Baked Black Bean onward Blue Corn Chips

* Knudsen Strawberry Spritzer

* Newman's avow Organics Fat-free Fig Newtons

* Pacific subsistences Chocolate Rice Milk

* Terra Sweet Potato Chips

* White Wave Silk Soy Milk

* Zoe commonss Peanut Butter Flax & Soy Bar

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