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New Healthy School Lunch Changes Equals More Nutritious Meals for Kids

January 26, 2012 0

We have never been fans of the USDA school lunch program in our home. In fact, when Eben was in public school he never ate school lunch, we have always packed a healthy and delicious lunch for him. The very idea of pizza being the vegetable on a school lunch menu makes me cringe. And remember when a Chicago public school banned homemade lunches to encourage their idea of healthy eating? For the most part, school lunches contain too much fat, sodium, artificial flavors and colors that it rivals fast food. However, it looks as though things are about to change, the USDA is making the first changes to the school lunch menus in 15 years.

The new standards are meant to be consistent with the healthy food choices that many families are already trying to implement in their own homes including:

  • Students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week.
  • Substantially increasing the offerings of whole grain foods.
  • Students are offered only fat-free or low-fat milk.
  • Ensuring proper portion size by limiting calories based on the age of the children being served.
  • Increasing the focus on saturated fat, trans fats and sodium reduction.  
  • Foods and beverages sold in vending machines on school campuses will also contribute to a healthy diet. 

These new school lunch rules were built around recommendations from a panel of experts convened by the Institute of Medicine – a gold standard for evidence-based health analysis. You can see a sample lunch program menu with the before and after comparsion here.

Sounds pretty great, right? However, their are challenges that the new rules face including:

  •  A $3.2 billion expense to school meal costs over the next 5 years – when school budgets are at an all-time low. 
  • Taking a three-year period to implement the key changes in the nutrition standards to schools.
  • The ease of Congress allowing these key changes being implemented. 

What your thoughts? If you pack a healthy school lunch for your child everyday – will you allow them to eat school lunch once the program is implemented in your school?

If your child eats school lunch, are you happy with the changes that are being made?

Intro photo via Ben + Sam, 2nd photo via USDAgov

How to Make Organic Homemade Pear-Cranberry Sauce Kids Will Love

November 22, 2011 0

Thanksgiving is upon us, there are just a couple of days left until the big day. Do you have your menu set yet? If your kids aren’t big fans of traditional, tart cranberry sauce, win them over with a naturally sweeter version. My pear-cranberry sauce still has that traditional cranberry zing, but with a pear sweetness that even the fussiest children will devour. Depending on where you live, you may be able to get some local cranberries and pears at your farmer’s market to make a batch. Check out how to make this super easy recipe – your children can help, all of the ingredients are organic and it only takes a few minutes to make!

P.S. Eben’s teachers asked each children to make their favorite Thanksgiving dish to share with their friends today at school. Eben choose to make our organic pear-cranberry sauce with Mr. Sweet Greens and it was a huge hit – not a drop was left. 

How to Bake Organic Miniature Apple Pies For Thanksgiving

November 21, 2011 0

If pie is at the top of your family’s list of Thanksgiving favorites, you might also have trouble getting everyone to agree on one type of pie. Our suggestion: make several miniature pies, that way everyone can enjoy the flavor they crave without ending up with way more dessert than you can eat. Plus these little treats are fun to make with children and they’re cute, too. Check out my photo step-by-step instructions to learn how to bake miniature apple pies for Thanksgiving. If it’s pumpkin, pecan, or cherry you desire, you can adapt this recipe by making a different filling to create any variety you like.

LAST DAY: Fair Trade USA | Free Fair Trade Finder App + Giveaway

November 21, 2011 0

Today’s giveaway is sponsored by Fair Trade USA, they are giving away a reusable bag full of Fair Trade Goodies.

Fair Trade USA has just introduced their new social media tool to help consumers find Fair Trade Certified products in their area. The best part – when you find a great Fair Trade Certified product in your area, you can add it to the map for others in your area to find too. Yay! If you want to learn more about what Fair Trade Certified is, check out the video below.

It’s called the Fair Trade Finder and the mobile app is available via iPhone, Android and Facebook. I think this is a fantastic idea, because I am always excited when I do find Fair Trade Certified products at Costco or my local grocery store – now I can share it with others too.

It’s easy, simply download the app, plug in your zip code and start searching. Then, when you find a Fair Trade Certified product, add it to the app for others to find!

The goody bag includes: Green Mountain Coffee [Colombian Fair Trade Select], Honest Tea, Choice Organic Teas, Hand in Hand Orange Blossom Soap, Green & Black’s Organic Almond Chocolate, and Green Tea Mints all delivered to you in a Fair Trade USA reusable bag! [I received a goody bag myself and all of the items are fantastic, you will love them!]

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Subscribe to Sweet Greens. [1 entry]
2. Like Sweet Greens on Facebook [1 entry]
3. Like Fair Trade Finder on Facebook [1 entry]
4. Tweet:
     Win! @FairTradeUSA Goody Bag @SweetGreens here: http://goo.gl/2p1zA
5. Leave a comment on this post for each action that you do.

The winner will be announced November 22nd. Good Luck!

** The winner is James! Thank you everyone for playing and reminding me to pick a winner! It was a long week. 🙂

Healthy Halloween Treat: CLIF Kid Full Moon Brownie Zbar

October 27, 2011 1

Before we left for our Fall Family Trip, Eben and I taste tested the newest healthy snack from CLIF Kid – The Full Moon Brownie Zbar. Eben’s reaction: Can I eat them all right now? Ha.

The new Full Moon Brownie Zbars are super yummy, healthy and an organic treat that you will feel good giving to your kids this Halloween. The Zbars are USDA certified organic, include 8 grams of whole grains and 12 minerals and vitamins. The best part, they taste good too – just like a chocolate chip brownie should.

While on our Fall Family Trip, I would pack a Full Moon Brownie Zbar in Eben’s coat pocket each morning before we went hiking – most days he had eaten it well before we even hit the trailhead!

CLIF Kids Full Moon Brownie Zbars would be perfect for handing out to trick or treaters, treats for your child’s classroom party or your own Halloween spookfest. Grab them while you can, they will only be available for a limited time.

What other healthy goodies do you give your children on Halloween?

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