It’s that time of year once again. Bringing your child back to the school routine takes more than purchasing new clothes and fancy school supplies. Making wise dietary and snacking choices for children during the academic year that complement their hectic scholastic life is a parental responsibility, which requires a well planned approach. Parents also need to plan a smooth transition to ease the change in their children’s daily routine from the long summer holidays, to prepare them for a busy new school calendar.
This transition can be difficult. Back-to-school is a time when parents plan a routine comprising nourishment and rest, balanced with the academic and co-curricular activities. This is when mothers revisit lunchbox ideas that are new and interesting. Innovative and appealing options make snack time fun and interesting. Most children develop preferences for foods they enjoy and tend to steer away from newer choices. However, the right kind of eating is a priority. Some pointers:
1. Go for the grain. Whole grain foods such as whole-grain bread, pretzels or tortillas and high-fibre whole-grain cereals provide energy with some staying power.
2. Involve children in preparing lunch boxes. Children who cook have a more diverse palate. So get them involved in preparing their own lunch boxes, even if it’s as simple as tossing the salad or cubing the fruit.
3. Combine new foods with old favourites. This can help overcome resistance to eating unfamiliar foods or ingredients. Pairing unpopular foods with the favourites creates a conflict and they will want to try it.
4. Shift gradually to healthier versions. Switching from standard pasta to whole wheat, for example, or from whole milk to low-fat is a relatively simple way to boost kids’ intake of nutritious foods.
5. Food presentation is key. Introducing different ways to present food makes it more appealing. Example: make a smiley face instead of spreading cheese all across the slice of bread. Children also love to see colours, shapes and forms. This builds an excitement which encourages them to get adventurous.
Barni, the much loved teddy bear-shaped soft cake, is an ideal option for snacking. Apart from being packed with high superior ingredients such as wheat, milk and eggs, when accompanied with fruit and a dairy product it makes for a well-balanced snack. With a choice of two yummy flavours, milk and chocolate to choose from, it creates an enjoyable snacking experience for the little ones.
-The author is nutritionist at Barni Arabia
