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Health & Fitness

What Are You Putting in That New Lunch Bag?

How are you going to start out this year? Are you going to give your kids all those "Empty Calories" in their lunch?

It is that time; back to school!

There are so many mixed feeling, back to a schedule, homework, and making lunch ... stress!

WHAT ABOUT THOSE LUNCHES?

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How are you going to start out this year? Are you going to give your kids all those “Empty Calories” in their lunch?

You know what I mean; the fruit snack or should I say sugar snacks, or the little bag of chips and cookies?

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I know. How about a piece of fruit or some “homemade” apple sauce? Apple sauce is so easy to make and you know what they are eating.

Here is how I make it:

Wash and core the apples, put them in a pan with just a small amount of water. Cover and cook on low until the apples are soft. Once they are soft, let them cool. The skin comes off really easy. I use the old-fashioned potato masher and mash the apples to the consistency you like. Sugar is NOT needed. I like cinnamon on mine. Now that was easy!

Now instead of sandwiches, how about lettuce wraps, or try different breads that are healthier. Yogurt with cut up fruit. Instead of those chips; how about some cut up veggies? Have you tried the gluten-free pretzels? They are good! Granola is a good snack with some raisins. They have those individual hummus containers, GREAT for lunches.

Another idea is make extra for dinner and give them leftovers.

Be creative, be prepared and keep it in bite sizes, kids like that. Put their lunches in containers that you are not concerned if they return. You could reward them with a surprise it they eat their lunch and return the containers.

What I really want to suggest is getting back to basics. Our kids need energy. They do not get it from all the crap “processed foods”. So why do we feed it to them? Is it easy? Maybe, my question to you is, "Do You Love Your Children Enough to take the time  go give them healthy foods?" Easy is not always good. What I know to be true is that once we get into habits we CAN DO IT! It is choice. Us as parents hold the key to our children's future. As I have stated before “Childhood Obesity” is an epidemic in our country.

Are you going to fight it or join it?

It is a new school year, they have their new lunch bags and book bags and new clothes, right? Let’s add a new habit…HEALTHY LUNCHES!!!

P.S. Remember to pack their water…HIGH QUALITY H2O!!

WE OWN THE KEY TO OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE!!

Happy Trails

Helen McCormick, Wellness Coach

askcoachhelen@gmail.com

ItisUp2U.com

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