Back to School - Go Cleanly!

Having an “eat-clean” game plan for sending your little ones (or little one, older ones and the tween in between – if you’re like me) back to school is crucial to teaching our kids strategies for lasting health and fitness. 

Maybe you have figured out ways to make clean eating work at home but, what about in the school cafeteria?  In Westerville, our school district has, thankfully, hopped on the “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010” bandwagon initiated by First Lady, Michelle Obama, but that doesn’t mean our kids will always CHOOSE from the newly accessible healthier, less-processed options. 

After adapting this lifestyle to my diet – I was eager for my kids to follow along.  At first, my girls were worried about being considered “abnormal” if they brown-bagged it.  But, teaching them that it's okay to say no to all the junk and just eat plain old healthy food is actually working.  I discussed how they shouldn’t be ashamed of explaining to their friends that what’s in their lunch sacks is helping with their goal of living a longer, healthier life.  Understanding they may not be perceived as normal, but they definitely would be labeled “healthy”, got them used to the idea fairly quickly.  They now know that by packing their lunches, they are giving their bodies what they need to look and feel healthier than ever. 

Don’t get me wrong - they don’t always pack a complete meal.  A few times per month they indulge in a “treat” of a slice of pizza or sub sandwich but they also bring a healthy beverage and sides from home that they try to fill up on first.  Like crisp baby carrots and hummus or all natural fruit cups with no added sugar or heavy syrup.

To help get your young ones started, here are a few of our other favorite food options you can pack for some back-to-school clean eating:

• Whole-grain wraps with lean grilled chicken or turkey
• Grapes and natural nut butter (almond or peanut) – Sounds odd, by I got them to try it by informing them it’s just like a PB&J, but without the bread!
• Pack leftovers from your clean dinner last night
• Low-fat Greek yogurts (don’t forget the spoon)
• Homemade Clean granola bars or muffins (helps them avoid candy)
• La Croix sparkling water – my older girls are more partial to this because it helps them feel like they aren’t missing out while their peers gulp down a (sugar laden) soda
• Homemade salads and balsamic dressing
• Sunflower seeds or small packets of almonds

What if they're used to a good ole' PBJ?  Below is a recipe you can use to clean up your childhood favorite the clean-eating way!

SQUEAKY CLEAN PB&J
Ingredients
2 slices bread (whole-grain, brown rice or Ezekiel – found in frozen health section of many major grocers)
2 TBSP natural nut butter
5 fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
DirectionsToast two slices of your selected bread.  Spread the toasted bread with nut butter.  Place the sliced strawberries on top of nut butter until it’s completely covered with strawberries.  Place the second slice of toast on top of the first.  Cut, wrap and pack!

Tips:
1.       You can mash the strawberries to make a more jam-like consistency
2.       Kids don’t like crusts?  Save time with the THIS

Be prepared - role play - include your child in grocery shopping, menu planning, & meal prep - teach them to read labels and you’ll too be on your way to fulfilling back-to-school lunches the Clean Eating way!