From Lunch Boxes to Low Fat Yogurt, Lands’ End and Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association Offer Healthy School Lunch Tips

DODGEVILLE, Wis., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ — For millions of kids and parents, “back to school” means back to packing a lunch. It is not only what is inside the lunch box that can make it a healthy, nutritious meal but also the lunch box itself. Lands’ End and Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association have partnered to provide healthy school lunch ideas that are fun, packed with nutrients and easy to transport to and from the school lunch room.

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Lunch Boxes That Last

A lunch box can make or break a healthy lunch. If a child loves his or her lunch box, he or she will get excited about what is inside. Lands’ End spokeswoman Michele Casper recommends parents and kids keep the following in mind when selecting lunch boxes:

— Easy Cleaning: At lunchtime, kids often don’t want to waste any playground time cleaning out their lunch boxes. Likewise, moms want a quick option as well. So look for seamless and nonporous interiors, like the CleanSweep lining from Lands’ End. The lining stops crumbs from gathering, can be wiped down or pulled out for quick cleaning, helps keep leftovers fresh and stops odors from starting.

— Leak Resistant: Look for a lunch box that is leak-resistant. Seamless interiors and sealed seams in lunch boxes help keep spills contained, unlike a brown paper bag.

— Access to Extras: Kids have to bring a variety of things to school, from milk money or milk tickets to separate snacks for snack time. Look for lunch boxes with exterior pockets that save kids from digging through their lunch boxes and making a mess. These pockets should be big enough to hold anything from a few milk tickets to a bag of grapes for a snack.

— Size Matters: No matter what kids usually eat, make sure their lunch box can hold it all and not destroy lunch in the process. Parents should look for lunch boxes that have rigid sides, so the sandwich made in the morning doesn’t turn into mush by lunchtime. Lunch boxes should be big enough to hold the entire lunch.

— Easy Identification: With so many food allergies today, it’s more important than ever to ensure kids don’t eat the wrong lunch. Look for lunch boxes that offer custom monogramming or embroidery. Interior identification tags in lunch boxes will also help make sure they don’t get lost. Look for lunch boxes with exterior features that will help keep kids safe, too. Reflective trim on lunch boxes helps make sure they’re visible at all times.

Recent Report: Kids Need More Nutrients

According to a report released this month by the Action for Healthy Kids, a nonprofit group that addresses childhood obesity, children consume too many calories and not enough nutrients. Only two percent of kids consume the recommended number of servings from all food groups.(1) To pack more nutrition into school lunches Dawn Clausing, a registered dietitian with Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, offers the following tips:

— Penny for penny, dairy is one of the best nutritional values of any food group. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans identifies the milk group as a “food group to encourage” because milk provides many key nutrients including calcium, potassium, magnesium and vitamin A. These are especially important nutrients for growing kids and teens, yet typically lacking in their daily diets.

— Think whole grains and lean meats. School lunch sandwiches aren’t limited to bread. Consider creative tortilla wraps with whole grains and lean meat. Add more flavor and nutrients with shredded low fat cheese and grated vegetables. Or, wrap string cheese and dried or fresh fruit in a tortilla wrap for an easy, on-the-go snack.

— Healthy dessert. Mix together low fat flavored yogurt with sliced fresh fruit and sprinkle with low fat granola for a bit of crunch. It’s a great way to add more fruit and dairy into a kid’s diet while adding a touch of sweetness.

— Choose colorful vegetables. In general, colorful vegetables are packed with nutrients. Bring kids to the supermarket or farmers market with you and make it a game for them to select the most colorful vegetables for lunch. The more children are engaged in selecting their food, the more likely they are to try and enjoy new items in their diet.

— According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, small amounts of sugar added to nutrient-rich foods, such as low fat and fat-free dairy foods, may increase consumption of such foods by enhancing the taste, so overall nutrient intake is improved without contributing excessive calories. In fact, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that children who drink flavored or plain milk consume more nutrients and have a lower or comparable body mass index (BMI) than children who don’t drink milk.

About Lands’ End Lunch Boxes

Lands’ End lunch boxes are easy to clean and keep hot stuff hot and cold stuff cold. They offer plenty of room to keep food from being squished, but also have pockets for extra money and are easy to carry. Lands’ End offers a nonporous, seamless CleanSweep lining that makes lunch boxes easy to clean and leak resistant. New this back-to-school season, Lands’ End introduces Character Lunch Boxes — a horse, dog, polar bear or ballet slippers adorn the front. Lands’ End lunch boxes can be personalized with initials, numbers or an icon, and an interior ID tag makes them easier to keep track of. Reflective trim helps kids stay visible on their way home. It’s also important to note that all Lands’ End Lunch Sacks are PVC-free.

About Lands’ End

Lands’ End(R) is one of the world’s largest consumer-direct retailers of casual and tailored clothing for women, men, children and infants around the world. In addition, Lands’ End offers an innovative collection of fine-quality goods for the home. Most recently, Lands’ End launched its back-to-school collection including lunch boxes and backpacks. Lands’ End merchandise can be purchased online at http://www.landsend.com/, by calling 1-800-800-5800 and by visiting the Lands’ End Shops at Sears. Lands’ End is a proud member of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD) . And, all high-quality Lands’ End merchandise is Guaranteed. Period.(R)

(1) Action for Healthy Kids. Progress or Promises? What’s Working For and
Against Healthy Schools, 2008.

URLs: http://www.landsend.com/
http://www.dairyspot.com/

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Source: Lands’ End