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Pack it with nutrition
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Here are a few tips to ensure that children don't ignore tiffin boxes at lunch time
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SHUNNING LUNCH? Try giving them easy-to-eat, nutritious food
For most kids, lunch-break means playtime, and lunch often gets in the way. Unopened tiffin boxes or half-eaten lunches are a common source of frustration and anxiety for parents. Here are some tips to lessen parents' worries about their child's nutrition and lunch habits.
Appearance matters: Shapes, textures and colours matter as much as taste for young kids. If your kids like their Mickey Mouse box, pack food in that box until they grow up or get a new comic book hero. If they like burgers, make a nutritious sandwich, using two small buns. If brown apple slices make them squirm, you'd better squeeze some lemon juice on them before packing them.
Likes and dislikes: Seriously, if your kid likes curd rice for lunch, let her have it everyday until she gets bored with it. Most kids love predictability when it comes to lunch, and having something likeable to look forward to makes them feel secure.
Save time: Your child will be done with lunch in 10 minutes, so make it easy for her to eat as much as possible during that time. Pre-mix the food if she wants it that way. Pack a spoon. Make bread easier to handle by cutting it in diagonal slices. Include high-calorie foods that take up less space — boiled eggs or dry fruit, for example.
Pack a drink: Freeze a bottle of juice or milkshake overnight. It will thaw out into a cool and refreshing drink by lunchtime. The drink will take 30 seconds to gulp down and will provide valuable energy and nutrition. It also reduces the temptation of soft drinks.
Sneak in nutrition: Sprinkle dry fruit, banana slices or egg slices on cheese spreads. Make curries and dals thick to ensure more nutrition per unit volume. Substitute fruit sauces and protein spreads for jelly. Pack a protein bar instead of a chocolate bar as a treat.
Don't fret too much over a half-eaten lunch. Nothing will stop a kid from eating when she is hungry. Keep a nutritious snack in the fridge as an after-school standby — milk, her favourite fruit or a whole bread sandwich you can microwave on demand will do. No sweets or fried foods, please. Above all, make sure the child has a healthy and balanced meal for breakfast. As long as you do not compromise on breakfast, the odd unopened lunchbox will matter little in the long term.
RAJIV. M
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