Nutrition and healthy eating

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• January 28, 2011 3:25 p.m.

  You're covering such great topics here! I thought you might be interested in these films that are part of the Lunch Love Community Documentary Project. In particular, you may be interested in these three: If They Cook It, They Will Eat It http://www.lunchlovecommunity.org/if-they-cook-it-they-will-eat-it.html Flamin' Hot http://www.lunchlovecommunity.org/flamin-hot.html The Whole World in a Small Seed http://www.lunchlovecommunity.org/the-whole-world-in-a-small-seed.html We'd love for you to embed the videos and share with your audience. Let me know if you'd like any more info on the project, it seems like we are on the same mission to keep our kids healthy! Many thanks, Emma,

  - Emma

• October 7, 2010 6:33 p.m.

  A healthy easy snack idea for kids's lunchbox: mix some natural berry powder with vanilla yogurt, keep in the fridge or freezer overnight. Frozen berry yogurt will stay cool until lunchtime and taste yummy. And what is even better, there and no additives or chemicals in natural berry powders, just lots of nutrients and fibre. There are several brands available in the market, I buy currently from Canadian 'The Nordic Spirit'. They have several types of berries.

  - Caroline

• October 6, 2010 12:43 p.m.

  I just came across your health and fitness blog. Your article about child obesity and getting them interested in healthier foods was especially interesting. I especially liked your comments about schools integrating healthy choices into the lunch menu, following Michelle Obama's "Get Up and Move" Program. I am adding you to my favorites. We're in the same industry, the business of encouraging health and fitness. We market a product called The AbStand: http://www.theabstand.net. We would love for you and your readers to check out our ab workout product. Any feedback would be appreciated as well. Thanks!

  - Elise Lowerison

• October 2, 2010 6:04 a.m.

  I think it is very hard, my 6 years old he eats very good food at home, but at school he wants to follow his friends ( since we have a choice to bring a lunch ) he tells me mom today they had a chicken nugget it looked good, he never eats that, next time I try to buy him chicken nugget from xhool lucnh he says no it wasn't good. First we have to educate the kids and their familes If they show them vidoes at school about how junk food is bad for your body (fat) this will help them . I give my kids 1 % milk at home but if I ever buy school lucnh it is regular milk, and they have a choice for chocolate milk. I think FDA and school lunch they must work together and do something. After all it is better to pay for healthy food than paying to Doctors and Meds. New jersey

  - Alice

• September 30, 2010 8:12 p.m.

  I know my senior high school went with frozen or pre-made meals since they were cheaper and guaranteed to fit the regulations. Students’ opinions weren't always considered. Even when students didn't buy certain lunches they would go to the only other option the 'ala cart' where you could only find sweets or Chips. That was also owned by our school lunch program and was the only part to make a profit. So officials didn't care since they recouped their loses from one with the other. Most students couldn't afford to bring their own lunches and if you did you were asked to sit as far away from the kitchen as possible (to avoid potential contamination). The points of my story are to try to: - have school lunch program(s)' regulators present options to schools about healthier options that fit the rules and are cost effective - make healthier options more affordable - take students' opinions about the meals into consideration - get students involved with the meal program (don't just dictate what they will have, older students especially may take offence) - promote healthy boxed lunches too, that way the students may want to take the good food lessons home and share with their families

  - Kim

• September 29, 2010 6:37 a.m.

  I think that the first and crucial step to be successful here is to educate kids in that regard. If, from their early childhood, you are able to "buy" their willing and to convince them that they must eat healthy food to be healthy, happy and feel good, you already got it. Before that, you of course have to be successful with their parents. In my case, my two little ones, aged 8 and 6, have very clear in their minds that fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish are much better than pizzas and any other fast food even when they partying out there. And even more, they disseminate this idea among their relatives, friends, school mates... not easy at all, I guess. Then, the system have to be responsible enough to meet their expectations and offer them healty food options at the school and everywhere else. It can also be a good business. Selling a banana at the supermarket is a really low cost option while selling it at a vendor machine or expensive restaurant can be, I wouldn't say very expensive, but much more a more attractive business for the producer and the manufacturer. This another important leg of the whole issue. You convince them about this more profitable business, you generate economic activity and you have it already half done. Regards. Carmelo González. Canary Islands. Spain

  - Carmelo