Fast Food School Lunch

I can't tell you how many times I have met my daughter for lunch at her school, walked into the cafeteria and smelled that undeniable smell: fast food.

Her school doesn't serve fast food; these are lunches parents have brought in for their kids to eat that day. Their 6-year-old kids. Munching down on Chicken McNuggets, french fries, chocolate milk, hamburgers, you name it.

I've talked to a few parents about it and they tell me it's a special treat for their kids. Or the child forgot their lunch for the day and the parent had to run something up there. Or, it's a special day because Mom or Dad came to visit.

Come on, parents - we can do better than this.

We live in a small town (a suburb, really, but it has a wonderful, small-town feel); it's roughly 14 square miles with a population of about 39,000. And we do have many convenient, inexpensive fast food joints here. As a matter of fact, I counted them:

* two Sonics
* two McDonalds (which seems to be a favorite with the lunchtime crowd)
* two Wendy's
* two Subways
* KFC
* Taco Bell
* Chicken Express
* Quizno's
* Dairy Queen
* Boston Market
* Chipotle
* Mooyah Burgers
* At least five pizza places
* And that's not counting the locally-owned BBQ, donut or other fast-food type establishments
* Plus, I'm sure I missed a few

Seriously, I could eat at least one fast food meal daily at a different place 30 days in a row - all within a convenient 5-minute drive from my house.

So, fast food is definitely here. But that doesn't mean we have to eat it.

We can do better than this.

If you're looking for a fast, fairly cheap meal you can take to your kid as a treat or as an "oops, I forgot your lunch" lunch, there are so many other better choices than the requisite chicken nugget/fries/chocolate milk.

Try one of these healthier ideas for next time:

• Grocery stores typically have fresh sandwiches, salads or pizza. Market Street here has awesome (and quick) fresh-to-order, custom-made sandwiches, salads (my favorite is the Asian with crispy noodles any kid would love) and pizza. Order your pizza with less cheese, on a crispy thin crust with your child's favorite toppings - my 3-year old devours them.

• Here in Coppell, a locally-owned store called Healthy Me also has fresh-to-order meals (there is a chef on-site) and they specialize in kid meals and box lunches.

• Chipotle has pretty healthy choices and they try to provide locally-grown meats and produce. Split a burrito with your child or get him a salad bowl with beans, rice, a little cheese and some chicken (omit the lettuce if your child won't eat it - like my daughter).

• Subway has great options for healthy sandwiches - turkey, ham, veggie. Catch your favorites on their "featured day" and pay just $2.50 for a 6-inch sandwich. Plus you can order online for super fast service. Just try to forgo the chips and fountain drink.

• Jason's Deli (which is about 10 minutes away) has a great kids menu, complete with baked chips, fruit, organic apples and organic lowfat milk. Call ahead to make it a fast pick-up.

• If you must go to McDonald's, try their small, plain hamburger with a side of apples and a lowfat white milk. Much better than the chicken nugget Happy Meal (with over 20 grams of fat and about 1/2 of your child's calorie allowance for the entire day).

Any other ideas for fairly healthy, on-the-go kid lunches (and for our lovable, notoriously picky eaters)? Share in comments.....

Fun at the YMCA Healthy Kids Fair

I had so much fun yesterday at the Coppell YMCA Healthy Kids Fair - there were kids and families everywhere, learning about healthy living and eating right. And of course, I did my part by having kids play the game "Guess How Much Hidden Sugar" found in common drinks and snacks.

Some shout-outs to my favorite people and moments of the day:

* Tresha Glowacki for generously donating half of her table to me and all my stuff (and for introducing me around to all the people in the room). She is with MyCoppellToday.com - I write monthly articles for the site - and Youth Sports Today. Thanks, Tresha; you are awesome.

* My mom, who stood next to me for awhile exclaiming, "Goll-eee Susan!" or "Well I didn't know that!" when I would show kids how much added sugar is in, say, a Gatorade or Starbucks flavored latte.

* My daughter, Isabella, who memorized every food product and its associated sugar content - and who delighted in shouting out the answers when the kids didn't guess right.

* My son, Zander, who took a few minutes out of his basketball playing time to stand behind the table asking everybody who walked by if they wanted a free Soyjoy bar or box of Total (our prizes).

* The many parents who nudged their kids and said, "See, this is why I tell you not to drink that stuff". Right on, people.

* The several kids who truthfully said "water" when I asked what they drank after sports activities. Special high-fives to the older kids who said they refused to drink soda, even at friends' houses.

* The mom who (like me) feeds her kids frozen waffles for breakfast on crazy school days and not Fruit Loops or some other sugary cereal. We had fun discussing the healthiest brands available.

Finally, my very favorite moment of the day: the 10-year-old boy who sauntered up to my table with all of his friends and proceeded to shrug and say, "So. Who cares?" as they played the game. He came back by himself at the end of the day and very shyly asked me to show him everything again and to explain exactly what hidden sugar meant. And, he said thank you.

And for me - if I influenced even just one person into changing their eating or drinking habits for the better, then I count that as a pretty successful day.

Food, Inc. - The Movie

I finally was able to watch the movie Food, Inc. last night (yes, it's a 2009 movie, but with two small children you see what you can when you can).

First, if you are a dietitian or anyone who is involved in the food and nutrition industry, you must see Food, Inc.

Second, if you happen to live in America and eat food in America, you must see Food, Inc.

As the movie says, it "lifts the veil" on the food industry, exposing the behind-the-scenes mechanics of where the food in America comes from - following the trail from "seed to supermarket".

Why is it more expensive to buy a pound of broccoli than chips and soda in the grocery store? Why is high fructose corn syrup so prevalent in many of our foods? What has happened to the American farmer in the last fifty years and how he makes his living? Why are potentially life-threatening bacteria like E. Coli and salmonella showing up in our food supply - and what has the FDA and USDA done (or not done) about it? Who is controlling our meat and poultry supplies and why? How did this all happen?

The documentary-style movie answers these questions (and more) with sometimes jaw-dropping revelations and clarity. And it outlines ideas on what we can do about it.

For me as a dietitian, I am simultaneously thrilled and appalled: thrilled that this movie was made as it helps to educate the public, something about which I am passionate; yet appalled at what we have become as a nation. It helped to solidify my understanding of how the food system works and validate many of my own food choices. But it's lasting impact for me is how it will certainly change the way my family eats from now on.

You have to know and understand what you are eating.

Rent this movie to find out for yourself; or get it for free at your local library. You can also go to their website to read more about it and see a clip. Let me know what you think.

Spring Means Farmers' Markets

It's Farmers' Market time, people. Time to start getting up bright and early on Saturdays and making your way to the nearest market with your coffee, kids and reusable bags in tow.

Why shop Farmers' Markets? Hands down, it's the best place to find locally grown and seasonable fruits and vegetables. It's also a great place to discover a new food to try or to locate a difficult-to-find food. And it's not just for fruits and veggies. Markets today feature all kinds of items - meats, eggs, plants, baked goods and herbs to name a few. Plus, it's fun to gab with the farmers who can teach you how to choose and prepare the ripest and best tasting produce.

I have several good Farmers' Markets near me, including one right here in town (check out an article I wrote in the Dallas Morning News here about our local market).

But if you're unsure where the nearest market might be to you, try Local Harvest. It's a great resource not only for finding Farmers' Markets (you can input your zip code) but also for learning more about how to buy from local farmers through CSA (community supported agriculture), food coops and other channels.