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FUEL FOR LEARNING
If you pack your kids’ lunches,
the need to make them both
delicious and nutritious can
seem overwhelming.
Fortunately, there are ways
to make it less daunting and a
lot more fun for everyone:
Get the kids involved.
Sit
down together and make a list
of each child’s favorite fruits,
veggies, whole grains and
lean proteins. Mix and match
from the list when planning
lunches for the week. Or let
the kids plan an entire lunch
sometimes.
Try something new.
Broaden your child’s culinary
horizons with occasional forays
into the unknown. Peruse
the produce aisle for fun new
treats, such as star fruit, freeze-
dried strawberries or jicama.
Create interest.
Grab
your child’s attention with
fun shapes—put those
cookie cutters to good use
on sandwiches and other
items—and sizes. Turn fruit or
vegetables into kebabs.
Ask the kids to help.
Your
kids may be more likely to eat
things they’ve helped prepare.
So get them to pitch in on
making that pasta salad or
rolling up that wrap.
Finally, make food safety
a part of your plans. Use an
insulated lunch bag and include
an ice pack or frozen beverage
containers to keep cold foods
cold and hot foods hot.
Sources: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics;
American Academy of Pediatrics
crossing at crosswalks, to be
sure they see you.
And if your teen drives to school?
Have a talk about safety, no texting
while driving and the need to
wear seat belts.
SCORE WITH SPORTS SAFETY
Sports help kids stay fit and build
confidence. But first your child will
need a sports physical to help make
sure it’s safe to play.
Schools often offer physicals. But
you may want your child’s regular
doctor to do a physical that covers his
or her overall health as well.
Beyond scheduling a physical,
you can promote safe play and
practices. Often, kids get hurt
when they overdo it. Luckily, it’s
possible to avoid many injuries with
precautions. For instance:
»
»
Make sure kids take at least one
day off per week and one month
off per year from a particular sport
to give the body time to recover.
»
»
Children should never play
through pain. Be alert for any
pain or swelling that a coach
may not notice and your
athlete may ignore.
»
»
Limit the number of teams your
child plays on in a single season,
and don’t let your child play a
single sport year-round.
»
»
Make sure your youngster has
proper safety equipment.
ENCOURAGE FRIENDSHIPS
Many kids have trouble making
friends, which can harm self-esteem.
High school especially can be an
awkward time. What can you do to
help? The AAP offers suggestions:
If your child is often alone, talk
about it.
You might ask how your
child feels about this. Teens often
think adults don’t understand.
Practice what to say.
Kids
often don’t know what to say when
they’re with a group or being teased.
You might role-play what to do in
such situations.
Offer to take your child and
a friend to an activity.
Suggest
something brief, like a movie.
Encourage your child to join a
club or team.
But don’t require your
child to participate.
Additional sources: American Academy of Child
& Adolescent Psychiatry; American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons; American College of Emergency
Physicians; U.S. National Library of Medicine
Need a pediatrician?
Butterfield Park Pediatrics
andWalk-In Clinic is
accepting new patients.
Call
417-777-2121
.
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