Healthy foods are a hallmark of Montessori philosophy. Dr. Montessori was one of the first educators to recognize the connection between nutrition and the developing brain. One of the best ways to encourage a child to eat healthily is to get them involved in preparing their own food.
Parents are often astounded when they see their young child ready and able to peel and cut his own apples or carrots. In the Montessori classroom, children beam when it is their turn to enjoy snack with a friend. This means they can practice: gracefully inviting a peer to join them for snack, as well as preparing, serving and cleaning up after snack. And they quickly become very adept at all of these skills.
Helping the child develop this type of independence is at the very heart of the Montessori environment. What could be more meaningful to a young child who is developing independence than to master a few basic skills that can help him meet the fundamental human need of nutrition? What’s more, food preparation also builds concentration and the very motor skills needed for writing.
So back to packing a healthy lunch…here are a few handy tips:
- Make a shopping list before you go to the supermarket.
- Try to avoid artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives or hydrogenated fats (if you can’t read the list of ingredients, it’s best to avoid that product).
- If you are in a pinch and sending in a pre-packaged lunch, make sure to check the sodium level. Many “Lunchables” are extremely high in sodium.
- Get your child involved in prepping (peeling, washing) the fresh ingredients that will make part of his/her lunch like fruits and veggies.
- Keep your child’s small tummy in mind; provide a variety of smaller foods instead of an adult-sized portion like a sandwich. The same sandwich ingredients in small containers are more likely to be consumed. You can trim bread down into cracker-sized pieces and then get creative with the rest of the ingredients that s/he can mix and match.
- Think of simple dips for veggies that start with plain yogurt or cottage cheese.
- Try to provide a balanced meal, including some protein.
- Watch the sugar content of things that appear to be healthy, like flavored yogurts.
- Water is always available at school so there is no need to send juice boxes; children usually fill up on their juice box and then have no room left for lunch.
- More ideas on healthy lunches here.
- Have fun!
