Thinking inside the box: Keeping your kids well fed at school

It used to be the biggest decision about packing school lunches was who was on the lunch box. Batman or Barbie? "Star Wars" or My Little Pony?

Now there are myriad choices in lunch totes, bags and boxes — some insulated, some compartmentalized, some mere fashion statements. There are also more pre-packaged food choices, from Lunchables-type kits to fruit cups to granola bars, chips and crackers.

But one thing hasn't changed: that parent-child tug of war between what kids should eat and what they do eat.

"When parents pack lunches, the most important thing to do is feed your kids something healthy and something your kid likes," said Luann Shipley, director of child nutrition with the Utah State Office of Education. "As we feed children they're learning how to eat for a lifetime, so it's important to make that a balanced meal."

The ideal lunch should contain a vegetable or fruit, grains, a protein and a dairy food, she said.

But what about kids who refuse to eat fruits or vegetables, or want the same thing every day? Go ahead and pack that same-old ham or PB&J sandwich, but also add a few carrot sticks or other healthy item.

"If you keep offering a little every day, sooner or later they might try it and develop an acquired taste for things that are good for them," said Shipley.

Yet those who spend time in school lunchrooms can tell you that lots of food, whether served in the school lunch line or packed from home, ends up in the garbage. So if you're trying to expand your child's palate, keep his or her personality in mind.

"When I was younger and hated peanut butter, my mom used to put chocolate chips in my peanut butter sandwich so that I'd eat it," said Riley Bell, a sixth-grader at Windridge Elementary in Kaysville. "And it worked."

Some factors to consider:

Slow or speedy eaters: Some kids want finger foods they can eat quickly, so they can get to the playground. Second-grader Micah Bakker said he doesn't like food that needs a spoon or fork, or hard-to-open packaging that requires help from a lunchroom worker.

But Lexi Jensen of Arrowhead Elementary in St. George said she prefers to take her time in the lunchroom — possibly because of the 100-degree temperatures outside.

Dippity dos: Sometimes packing a little tub of salsa, ranch dressing or other dip will entice kids to eat carrot sticks or chips. Riley Bell's favorite lunch is German waffles with homemade strawberry jam for dipping.

Choices high in nutrients include salsa, hummus, bean dips or pureed fruit.

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