WH, (NAPSA)—Thehealthfulness ofschool lunches is one of the top three parental concernsofthisschoolseason, according BACK-TO-SCHOOL ~~ oy toa recent survey conducted by OnePoll. The survey covered a number of parental worries for their school-aged kids, including their safety, whether they'll make new friends, quality of education, and homework load. How- vf ~ WORRIES ‘emtcmaMc m . ever, 44 percentof respondents priori- ADHSRBAHE! tized healthful school lunches after the quality of their children’s teachers, and ahead ofthe cost of school supplies. Taking a deeper look into school lunches, the survey also found that the QO average child buys lunch about three times a week and, while healthful eating is a top concern for parents, 36 percent admitted they dort typically know what theirchild eats at school. Making Good Nutrition A Part ofKids’ Everyday Life What with pizza, mystery meat, and the variety of fried options offered at school, mostparents say their child eats healthiest when at home or when they pack their kids’ lunches themselves. Unfortunately, the survey also found that 45 percent of parents admit that they don’t always have timeor have for- gotten to prepare a sack lunchfortheir kids to take to school. “Parents have enough to worry about and what their kids are eating in school should be the last thing they have to think about. Yet, unfortunately, parents have deep fears about what their kids are Q 60% —__ {pwseohalen ‘ietecttoechndemson ‘MORONACOUFCD 57%—__ fod utonemareca secondbeyer = WHO WORRIES MORE IN THE BACK-TO-SCHOOLSEASON? A a”@ (panes cupren \ ~ TOP CONCERNSINCLUDE .... 9 fyjzoameccoraces 5 ipeseenecamson ame oxen —_—— eating in lunchrooms across the country? says Dr. John Agwunobi, pediatri- cian, co-president and Chief Health and Nutrition Officer at Herbalife Nutrition. “Weall have a responsibility to ensure our kids are getting the most nutritious meals possible, and I applaud school districts around the country that are working with parents to improve both the nutrition levels and taste of school meals” ‘According to the survey, only about a quarter of parents know both the nutrient andcalorie value of the foods their children eat for lunch, whether homemade or purchased. 36% > wut ofparensdont ypeKe WHATTHEIR CHILD EATS 90% Scomumee “mont 92% arma = ‘The Importance ofKnowing Nutritional Value of Food Building a balanced meal—includ- ing dairy, vegetables, fruits, grains and protein—doesn't have to be complicated ONLY ABOUTA QUARTER ortake a longtime. What is most impor- tantis making sure that the calories your children consumeare jam-packed with the nutrients they need for energy and growth—a concept known as“nutrient density.” Emphasizing nutrient-dense foodsis a great way to rethink how you pack yourkids’ lunches—and how you eorwneen HERBALIFE NUTRITION plan meals at home,too. Simply put, nutrient-dense foods are those that packalot ofnutrients relative to their calorie cost. When choosing between two food items with the same calorie Making sure kids eat right at school may be easier than many parents realize. fats, vitamins or minerals it needs every empty calories from sugar and saturated fat with noother significant nutrients. vitamin C, and nuts, which can replace chipsto satisfycravings for salty, crunchy items. However, the survey also found that the peanutbutter and jelly sandwich mostly nutrient-dense foods, with fewer “calorie-dense” foods—such as fats and To make it more nutrient dense, par- tive to the nutrients they contain. with whole grain bread and use a low- or survey reported, tasty food is their top that parents knowtheir child will eat (64 to make the sandwich more healthful, with better nutritionalvalue. Learn More (62 percent). Some ideas for nutri- and tasty options for your kids lunches, amount, onefood choice could provide your body with the protein, fiber, healthy day, while another choice may provide Ideally, a meal should be made up of sugars—which are high in calories rela- ‘Whenparents do packa lunch, the priority (64 percent), as well as foods percent), followed by healthy options ent-packed, healthful foods that most kids will enjoy include omega-3-rich tuna fish, sweet and crunchy carrots, strawberries packed with potassium and continues to be the staple menu item most parents pack for their children. ents can simply replace the white bread no-sugar-added peanutbutter and jelly, Forfurther facts andtips on healthful visit wwwiamherbalifenutrition.com.
