By Ashley Wiebe

Choice, control are important when packing school lunches

Aug 24, 2017 | 4:54 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Kids are getting ready to head back to school and some parents say they’re even more excited.

Many families will need to get back into the routine of packing lunches and snacks, some of which just makes the round trip back home, without ever being touched.

A local dietitian says it’s important to let kids choose what goes in their lunch bag, but making sure it’s within the major food groups.

Andrea Hoffman said that advice is working for her son, Keagan Hohn.

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Hohn will be starting Grade Two in a week and a half. He’s excited to learn more about his favourite subjects, including math.

“I like math,” he said. “I like reading. And I have no other things I’m exited for.”

He also said he’s excited to make new friends, even though his mother knows how distracting they can be during the noon hour.

“He sometimes talks a lot through lunch and doesn’t eat,” Hoffman said, adding that she’ll sneak in a treat as his incentive. Something he’s not supposed to eat until everything else is gone.

“Since kindergarten, he actually makes his own lunches,” she added. “I oversee, but we check through to make sure he’s got a little bit from each of the food groups.”

Registered dietitian Pat MacIntosh said it’s important kids have choice and control in what they eat.

“If they’re helping you buy the food, prepare the food, get it ready, they’re often more likely to eat it as well,” she said.

MacIntosh recommends sticking to the food groups, staying away from processed foods and doing any preparations the night before.

“The more you do the night before, the less rush and hectic the morning is, ‘cause sometimes as soon as you’re rushed, that’s when you grab whatever you can grab,” MacIntosh added.

“I think that he’s going to recognize that it’s important to eat and to feed his body the good stuff and it’s okay to have treats and snacks, but they’re secondary,” Hoffman said.