About Kid's Lunches

Lunch is a very important meal, especially for children. Kids' lunches are one way to make sure children are getting the nutrition they need each day. This time of the day offers children the chance to refuel, learn about new foods, practice their table manners and interact with peers. Kids can eat lunch in a variety of different locations. A very common place for children to eat lunch is at school. Kids may also eat lunch at restaurants or at home.

School Lunches

Schools offer children two possible lunch options. A child can purchase lunch at the school cafeteria or a child may also bring his lunch from home. Eating lunch at school has lots of advantages. By law, the meals must meet state nutrition requirements. A meal will typically have a vegetable, protein and starch component. Many schools also offer children fresh fruit and dairy options as well. In addition to offering children something to eat, most schools will also offer kids something to drink. This may include milk, juice or bottled water. Some schools sell soft drinks, while others discourage their use. School lunches are usually inexpensive. Many will run under $2 per day per child. Those children whose parents cannot afford to purchase school lunches are typically offered reduced price or free lunches. Forms for free lunches are distributed in school at the beginning of the year.

School Lunch Concerns

Some parents may worry about their child's lunch habit. Is he throwing away his milk? Is she not eating her vegetables? There are two ways to make sure your concerns are addressed properly. First, find out who is supervising your child's lunch time. The teacher who brings your child to the school cafeteria may not be the same teacher who teaches your child math. This information is not difficult to find out. You can then call the school and ask the supervisory teacher to pay attention to your child's eating habits. Many schools will also allow you to into school each day and check on your child directly.

Homemade School Lunches

Some parents may wish to make their child's lunches rather than purchasing the lunch at school. Homemade lunches have several advantages. Preparing a home lunch allows you to control exactly what goes into the lunch. Most schools will let parents know in advance what they're serving children for lunch each day. However, you may have no idea if your child ate grilled cheese sandwiches three days in a row. Another advantage of home lunches is that you can experiment with serving different foods. Your child's choices are not just confined to what's on the menu that particular day. If she likes chicken instead of hamburgers you can give it to her. A refrigerated thermos or cooler is ideal for this purpose. Food can also be stored in school refrigerators.

Meal Planning

When planning a meal for a child, it is important to remember that children have nutritional needs similar to adults. A well constructed meal should include a varied quantity of different foods that meets nutritional standards while pleasing the palate. Avoid serving the same kind of meal each day. Try soup one afternoon, pasta salad the next and a sandwich the day after. Offer interesting shapes and bright colors if you possibly can. This will attract your child's interest and encourage him to eat. A great way to make lunches your children will love is to bring them with you on shopping trips. Let them pick out a few favorite foods during each outing.

Restaurant Dining

Another place where children may eat lunch is in a restaurant. Lunches are typically cheaper than dinners at most restaurants. Most restaurants offer a children's menu that has smaller portions then the regular adult menu. Eating lunch at a restaurant is a very good opportunity to help your child learn manners and explore new food choices.