Pack A Healthy Lunch: Vital parenting information from Eyewitness News

The Center's for Disease Control says the number of overweight children ages six to 19 is at 16-percent or greater. And that number continues to climb. Even if your children aren't tipping the scales in the wrong direction, they still need a nutritious lunch. They need that fuel to get through the school day. Nutrition experts say, that in order to win the back to school lunch box battle, you need to first let your child choose their lunch box and have some say in what's going into it. Then, make the food fun.

Elizabeth Ward, MS RD
You can take that old stand by turkey on white and put it on a sandwich wrap. It really breathes new life into the sandwich and it will get your child very much looking forward to lunch

Pair that with fruit and a sensible snack like one of the 100-calorie packs of crackers, and you've got a good lunch.
Experts say on average, a ten year old needs two thousand calories a day. That breaks down to three 500 calorie meals and two 250 calorie snacks. Bite sized veggies like baby carrots or edamame can do double duty either in the lunch box or for after school snacks. And don't overlook that opportunity for nutrition. Those afternoon treats can also be fun and healthy.

Elizabeth Ward, MS RD
Things that are already portioned out like this string cheese, milks, and applesauce, you can even throw those into the car if you need to car pool or do errands or you can have them at home.