Page 2 - Brandon Sun - Healthy Lifestyles

2 THE BRANDON SUN • HEALTH • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019

Karen Larocque, a registered dietitian with Prairie Mountain Health, is helping promote healthy and interesting school lunches for students.
(Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
An education on school lunches

By Bud Robertson going to want to eat their square or rectangular-shaped choice,” Larocque said, add-
lunches when they’re helping Tupperware-type container, ing juice boxes and the like are
Kids need a healthy lunch to pick out things.” or even something purchased packed with sugar.
to help fortify them for the She also suggests investing from the dollar store, where “Even our new Canada
rest of the day, and there are in a good-quality insulated you can sort of put finger Food Guide, one of the main
ways to make sure they eat lunch bag, “so that cold food foods, or small portions of messages there is make water
what their parents send to will be kept cold and hot food foods in there so that your your drink of choice. That’s
school with them. will be kept hot.” child can mix and match.” for kids and adults.”
“I think No. 1 is for parents An ice pack will help make Instead of giving them ho- And don’t you go adding
to plan ahead,” said Karen sure that happens. hum traditional sandwiches flavours to give the water a bit
Larocque, a registered dieti- To make lunches more in- all the time, “it just makes a of a punch, either.
tian with Prairie Mountain teresting, parents can invest lunch more interesting for “We don’t really recom-
Health. “Make a grocery list in a Bento Box-style lunch kit them.” mend those for children be-
just like they would for plan- or container. These popular Parents can even use paper cause it’s usually an artificial
ning meals ahead.” Japanese-style boxes separate muffin liners to separate the sweetener and a food dye,”
They should consult with the food items into compart- contents, she said. Larocque said.
their children in helping ments. Investing in a good water When making up their
make the list, including some “You can buy expensive bottle is also important. kids’ lunches, parents should
of their favourite foods and ones, but we always encourage “We’re trying to steer par- keep the Canada Food Guide
lunch ideas, Larocque said. people to look at the cheap- ents away from packing juice and the different food groups
“Because when you get the er options, because food is and instead focusing on wa- in mind, she said.
kids engaged, the more they’re very costly,” she said, “even a ter and milk as their drink of » Continued on Page 3