Lunchbox Makeovers

Your school-age child needs a healthy diet just as much as you do. The number of overweight children in the United States has doubled in the last 30 years while parents and doctors struggle to put an end to this growing health crisis. You can start by making over your child's lunch with a few easy changes.

Replace high-fat lunch meats like bologna and honey ham with lower-fat deli meats like roast turkey or lean ham, or even grilled chicken breasts.

Replace white bread with 100% whole wheat bread or multigrain breads.

Replace fried chips and high-fat snacks with plain popcorn, cheese sticks, nuts, or veggies.

Replace fruit in syrup with fresh fruit or fruit packed in its natural juices.

Replace cookies and cakes with yogurt, sugar-free Jell-O, or sugar-free pudding.

Replace sugary fruit drinks and sodas with milk, water, or diet sodas.