Smile healthy school lunches

Children will be going back to school soon, and for parents, that means coming up with new ideas for packing school lunches. Steer clear of prepackaged foods, which are easy and convenient but full of sugar and additives that damage your child’s overall health as well as his/her dental health. Especially avoid packing lunches with foods like fruit snacks, juice boxes, and candy. These foods expose teeth to sugar, which over a long period of time leads to decay.

Start the school year off right by packing nutritious lunches that will keep your child’s mouth healthy.

Here are some healthy lunch ideas:

• Fresh fruit (grapes, apple slices, berries, etc.)
• Fresh vegetables (carrot sticks, cucumber, celery with peanut butter)
• Low fat cheese
• Bottled water (with fluoride added)
• Low-fat white milk
• Wraps with lean turkey, low-fat cheese, and veggies (such as lettuce, tomato, and/or cucumber)

Not only will healthier lunches help your child’s dental and overall heath, but a nutritious lunch will help them concentrate in the classroom.

Share your healthy lunch ideas in the comments below.