Brown Bag It!
One of the most effective ways to improve your student’s performance is to improve the QUALITY of your student’s lunch. The best way to improve the quality of lunch is to prepare it, yourself. So, brown bag it. Brown bagging it, will improve your student’s concentration, and in some cases help reduce symptoms of ADHD, juvenile diabetes, and other health issue. A healthy body equals a healthy mind.
Today, there are a variety of effective and convenient, insulated bags and thermos that will keep lunch hot, cold, fresh, and safe. Keep the following tips in mind.
- Pack the night before to prevent morning panic.
- Students should help prepare their lunch by washing fruit/veggies, wrapping foods, filling thermos, etc.
- Freezing drinks, juices, and ice teas can also help keep foods cold. However, the container will sweat while thawing, so wrap the surrounding foods well so that they don’t get soggy.
- Eat raw veggies and fruits--broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, apples, peaches, berries, pears, and melons.
- Make a wonderful salad with mixed greens, sprouts, carrots, raisins, almonds, radishes, cucumbers, and snap peas.
- Use a wide mouth thermos; fill it with soup, stir-fry, or leftovers.
- Try pocket or pita bread tortilla wraps, or grain salads
- Try trail mixes (mix your own nuts and seeds)
- Homemade snacks, muffins, or cookies made with nuts, seeds, dried fruits, 100% whole grains and sweetened naturally are best.
- Fresh fruits such as cherries, melon cubes, and pineapples are satisfying. They will settle and fortify your student so that they may work better.
- Avoid, white flour and white sugar products, items containing hydrogenated oils, processed foods and prepackaged lunch snacks laden with sodium and sugar.