The pandemic-era meals available for free to all public school students — regardless of family income levels — are ending. Here’s what you need to know heading into the school year.
Given these changes, some parents may be seeking affordable and healthy options for school lunches. Evelyn Benden, pediatric registered dietitian for, advises parents to make sure they’re packing all the different food groups.
"So packing fruits, vegetables, protein, grains and dairy. A lot of times we’re just packing a sandwich and chips or something like that," Benden said, noting how what children eat can affect their energy levels and ability to concentrate. whole wheat crackers, deli meat, low-fat cheese and yogurtchicken, hard-boiled eggs, hummus, beans, mixed nuts, carrots, apple slices or a peeled clementine.
Leftovers from dinner are always a good option, as well as meal prepping — which can save both time and money. "You don’t want to put things in their lunch that they really don’t like because they’re definitely not going to eat them," Benden explained. "So maybe the foods that are harder, have home at dinner or on the weekends and pick things that you know they’re able to eat.". But Benden said it doesn’t hurt to look at the meal calendar ahead of time "so you can tell your child what foods to pick and what to avoid.
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