It is back to school time and that means stocking up on school supplies, new clothes, new backpacks and new lunch boxes. But the thought of coming up with meal options that are healthy but also that our children will eat is enough to make some moms wish for more summer vacation.
According to Walmarts “Class of 2012 Back to school survey” 61% of moms say they plan to get their families to eat healthier during the new school year. However, moms’ biggest challenge is the cost of healthier foods. Walmart is out to change the way we shop for our children’s lunch items by ensuring that not only will it be good for them but it will be affordable also.
The Great for You seal, available now in the produce section and on additional Great Value and Marketside items starting this fall, will make it easier to identify affordable, healthier food choices.
The icon serves as a guide to help people make incremental changes to their diet by encouraging more nutritious food choices. The science-based criteria use a two-step process:
Step one focuses on encouraging people to eat more fruits, vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, low-fat dairy, nuts and seeds and lean meats. Examples include brown rice, 1% milk, raw almonds and 93% lean ground beef.
Step two limits the amount of total trans and saturated fats, sodium and added sugars that can be found in items such as sweetened oatmeal, granola bars, flavored yogurt and frozen meals.
To help make sure we start back to school with healthy options I went shopping and I turned our good lunchbox into a great lunchbox.
We stocked up on fresh fruit, dried fruit, string cheese, yogurt and more.
Instead of the typical lunch meat sandwich, I wanted to get a little more creative while still sticking with things that I knew Genghis would eat. I love the all natural lunch meats. Instead of bread, we tried out whole wheat pita’s and added some fresh spinach.
I added some Dippin StiX (I love these things) with apple slices and caramel, string cheese, yogurt, and banana chips with some dried cherries. It is a filing lunch for him, so he is happy. But it is also healthy, so I am happy. It is a win win situation.
One reader will win a $25 Walmart gift card so you can stock up on great for you foods and feed your kids healthy for back to school. Use the simple Rafflecopter form to enter.
About Rachel
Make lunches healthier by adding fresh fruit and cheese cubes.
Instead of chips, use baby carrots and grapes.
I make sure all snacks are organic fruit or vegetables and that the bread is wholegrain!
I put a fruit and veggie as a snack (like grapes and carrots)
string cheese is a favorite – maybe add a box of raisins
Add fruits and veggies to your child’s lunchbox
I odd green yogurt and grapes
including something from all the food groups!
Add cottage cheese or Greek yogurt.
RSS feed with my yahoo reader via email: frangeipani at hotmail dot com
I try to use whole grains and pack plenty of fruits and veggies
Melanie H. recently posted..MySurvey – Earn rewards for taking surveys
add blueberries or strawberries to the cereal!
I’m glad to hear that Walmart is providing healthier affordable options. Love that they are using the Seal, Great for You to identify them.
Kim L recently posted..Sunday Inspiration
i add yogurt in there lunchbox
RSS- Goggle- akronugurl@gmail.com
I give my son a lot of Sunbutter – it’s high in protein, fairly and he’s not a big meat eater, so every little bit helps!
whole grain bread and fresh fruit debbie jackson,
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
use more fruits and vegetables instead of chips
Adding some fruit and veggies to the lunch box
using wheat bread instead of white!
Use Whole Grain Bread, instead of White, and also do fruits, veggies, and greek yogurt! Thanks for the giveaway!
instead of snack cakes and chips give them fresh fruit or veggies
add plenty of peanut butter and fruit and veggies
tcogbill at live dot com
I do all sandwiches on whole wheat bread and include fruit every day
Instead of pudding, pack yogurt. It still has the sweet flavor, but is much more nutritious!
Subscribed via rss google – stacey0711n(at)gmail(dot)com
instead of having a candy bar in their lunches–try putting in a piece of fruit or jello cup )
i put in dressing or peanut butter, some kind of dipping thing for the veggies and fruits
I use a cookie cutter on sandwiches and freeze seedless grapes and go gurt yogurt as a yummy treat
packing bite size fruit pieces for my son will make his lunch healthier.
Add fruits and veggies
i use skewers to make raw “veggie kabobs” and include a hummus dip and a frozen yogurt cup which is soft serve texture by lunch time!
My kids love when I put a frozen GoGurt in their lunches.
michelle r recently posted..Top Ten Reasons I Love Fresh N Easy!
You need to make my lunch! that looks good!
Karen recently posted..Beyond Bedding 9pc Kaylee Baby Bedding Giveaway
I would put fruit for the dessert.
Offer lots of fruit and veggies and leave out fattening items like cookies and mayo.
I can definitely start putting fruits and veggies in the lunch bag and set an example for my kiddos.
Yogurt with dry fruit , and use wheat bread instead of white bread.
Our lunches always include some sort of fruit and yogurt
Maureen
maureen.tenney@gmail.com
putting a fruit in their lunch
Adding fruit like bananas, grapes, oranges, apples.