By: Emily Yu, Intern, American University Date: 8/8/11 With the
school year right around the corner, I know many parents are
once again starting to think about the dreaded question of what
to pack in school lunches. I recently spoke to my colleague,
Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, who not only is a registered dietitian,
but is also the mother of 3 kids. She had plenty of good ideas
to turn a headache-inducing question into hopefully a sigh of
relief. Here are a few of her tips: Make Meal Planning a “Family
Affair” Consider involving your child(ren) in the grocery
shopping and meal preparation process (or at least talk to them
about it – as shopping with 3 little ones in tow can be
stressful). This will give your child a sense of “ownership” in
making their own food selection and helps build their confidence
and life-long healthy eating behaviors. Your Pantry is Your
Child’s “Grocery Store” Stock your pantry and refrigerator with
lots of nutrient-rich foods: - Fruits and vegetables (fresh,
frozen, canned, dried and 10