Healthy School Lunches

Sep. 11

Written by Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht | Sept 11, 2019

Back to school also means back to packing lunches – and coming up with new ideas of what to send your little ones off to school with.

Make it Whole Foods

The best foods we can put into our bodies are real, whole foods – foods found in nature and used in their natural form. Choosing these as part of your child’s diet ensures they are receiving high nutrients and getting the brain-boosting benefits to focus and learn!

Start with the basics and include things from each food group - protein, fat, fruits, veggies, and whole grains.

The biggest portion of a meal should be made up of fruits and vegetables –ideally more veggies than fruit. Aim for at least 2 handfuls of veggies (2-3 different types), and 1 or 2 handfuls of fruit. Have a source of protein and fat to fuel the brain and keep them feeling full. Lastly, be mindful of how much of a lunch is made up of carbohydrates – ideally only 1/4. Carbs like bread, pasta, muffins, granola bars, etc., break down into sugar and affect attention, so we want to make sure this doesn't make up most of the meal. Read below for more on sugar.

3 Days of Lunch Ideas:

Day 1:

Vegetables: cut up cucumber, pepper, broccoli

Fruit: cut up strawberries

Fat: hummus to dip vegetables
Protein – left over chicken breast, or vegetarian chickpea & lentil salad
Carb: Made Good granola bar (peanut free, gluten free, vegan), or homemade muffins low in sugar/sugar free

Day 2:

Vegetables: cut up cauliflower and carrots

Fruit: grapes, blueberries
Protein: ground or sliced turkey, or vegetarian quinoa salad with beans & lentils
Carb: whole grain pita for turkey, or quinoa for vegetarian salad

Fat: hummus in pita

Day 3:

Vegetables: cucumber, carrots and pepper sticks

Fruit: sliced apples with cinnamon
Protein: chicken and vegetable soup, boiled/scrambled egg if vegetarian
Carb: organic muti-grain or sweet potato chips
Fat: guacamole or hummus dip for chips. nuts & seeds if allowed (ie. almond, cashew, pumpkin seed)

Skip the Sugar!

The Canadian Community Health Survey (2015) found on average children aged 2 to 8 consumed 101 grams (24 teaspoons) of sugar per day, and children aged 9 to 18 consumed 115 grams (28 teaspoons) per day. This was above the recommended amount of 12-24 grams (3-6 teaspoons) of sugar per day for children. A simple guideline to use when reading labels is: 4 grams of sugar = 1tsp

After consuming sugar, the brain struggles to pay attention and it becomes more difficult to retain information. Refined sugar is added to foods, snacks, and drinks like pop, chocolate milk, and sports drinks. Store bought fruit juice also contains a lot of sugar – both added and natural – and many health organizations now recommend reducing or eliminating it from the diet. Stick with water – you can add some fruit for natural flavouring!

Lastly, it’s good practice to read the nutrition and ingredients labels of any packaged foods you buy! If there are many ingredients you don't recognize, this can generally indicate a more processed food or high in additives. The more whole food it is, the more we can recognize the ingredients within!

Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht

Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht, BSc, ND is a licensed, board-certified Naturopathic Doctor. She received her Doctorate of Naturopathy from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, to which she was medically trained in standards of practice, clinical diagnosis, physical examination, and naturopathic modalities. Her interest in the functioning of the human body drove her to first receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Anatomy & Cell Biology, and to study other sciences such as physiology, biochemistry, etc. while at the University of Saskatchewan.
Dr. Liebrecht, ND has a general family practice treating a variety of health concerns including women’s health, thyroid disorders, digestive concerns, mood support, sleep disturbances, and fatigue. She is passionate about hormones, and her professional interests include polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, irregular menstrual cycles, fertility, menopause, hypothyroid, and fatigue. She aims to establish health in patients by providing the knowledge and tools to empower people, and take control of their health.

To stay up to date with current medical research and naturopathic treatments, Dr. Liebrecht, ND attends continuing education events and conferences throughout the year. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND), and the Saskatchewan Association of Naturopathic Practitioners (SANP). Dr. Liebrecht, ND serves as Vice President of the SANP.

https://www.sasknaturopath.com

Healthy School Lunches