Summer vacation is officially over and many kids are excited to go back to school this fall. As parents, we worry about making sure we have everything on their school lists, that they have new uniforms and most importantly making sure they’re healthy. Many times we rush in the morning to get our kids ready for school, making sure they eat a good breakfast and packing a healthy lunch. Yet, with convenience comes a price because many ready-made lunches have tons of sodium, which is a big problem.
According to a recent report, the Centers for Disease Control found that about 90% of American school-aged children consume way too much sodium on a daily basis. The high sodium puts them at risk for high blood pressure and diabetes, not to mention obesity.
What most parents don’t realize is that there’s a lot of sodium packed into items such as bread, cold cuts, chicken patties, pasta and even soups. While you don’t have to eliminate these all together, it’s important to find options that have a lower sodium content. You have to get into the habit of reading nutrition labels and even compare them to similar products to see what’s the best option.
For a healthy snack, instead of a cheese stick or fruit snack pouches, you should get your child used to healthier snacks, like a small bag of carrots, tomatoes, celery, and even nuts and fruits which are much better for them. Encourage your child to get involved and let them pick out healthy options that they like to eat.
Even packing leftovers from last night’s dinner will be a better option. Think about what your child likes and create healthy eating habits early on. By packing a lower sodium lunch for your children, you will help them develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime.