Food Article - Back to School: Parents Should Focus on School Lunches

by Lucas Shivers

Healthy food may be the last subject on students' minds by the time lunch arrives. With the demands of school, lunch can sometimes be a matter of grabbing anything edible.

But students require much more, said Sandy Procter, a Kansas State University Research and Extension nutrition educator and registered dietitian. School Breakfast is a Smart Start

Eating breakfast remains the best way to start a day, said Sandy Procter, a registered dietitian and nutrition educator with K-State Research and Extension.

"Bar none, breakfast has everything to do with daily success," Procter said. "It hits nutritional groups early in the day that otherwise may not get eaten any other time through the day."

A range of foods can fulfill those nutritional requirements.

"Breakfast gives a full shot of nutrients through enriched cereals and fruit juices," she said. "These simple foods are packaged right to give a full burst."

"Lunch is an important part of the day and makes a difference," Procter said.

The midday meal typically provides a third or more of the total daily calorie intake for children, she said. Nutrients must also be incorporated into the combination to satisfy requirements.

Procter said packed lunches rarely give the balance of a meal provided by school.

"It is too bad for the kids who do not get a variety, too bad for parents who have to worry about packing it and too bad for schools who count on their numbers," she said.

To help parents gain the full experience of a school lunch, Procter recommends sitting down in the cafeteria for an occasional meal.

"Eat lunch with your kids at school," she said. "Most places will encourage parents coming in for a meal. They can learn to see why things are the way they are. It shines a positive light on food service."

Going through a lunch time first hand allows parents to determine the objectivity of the comments volleyed around school lunches...........

Article continued at: http://www.culinary.net/articlesfeatures/nutritionhealth/focusschoollunches.html