Why packing your own lunch makes sense
Whether you are an independent teen or a parent hoping to give your child
a healthier lunch, packing your own is the way to go. School lunches recently
made headlines in the US for counting pizza as a vegetable. Truth is that
although school lunches should be healthy, cash-strapped education bodies
often just don’t have the cash or the employees it takes to cook
fresh, healthy meals every day. Here are some really good reasons to pack
your own pail.
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The right to choose: Often, students don’t like what’s on offer for lunch and
will opt for things they can count on like pizza or fries. If you pack
your own lunch, you get to choose what you want to eat. This also gives
you the opportunity to make healthier lunch choices. Just because lunch
is healthy, doesn’t mean it has to be boring, put some work into
preparation the day before so that you are not rushed in the morning.
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Variety is the spice of life: Eating the same tired old food every day from the cafeteria will have
you wishing for a change. Packing your own lunch (even if it’s only
a couple of days a week) means that you get a chance to eat your favorite
foods and give yourself a welcome change. It also means that when you
do eat hot dogs or pizza at school, you will enjoy it more.
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Fuel your brain: Despite the fact that your brain only accounts for 3% of your body weight,
it uses a massive 20% of the energy you consume. Keep your brain fueled
throughout the school day with healthy snacks high in fiber, carbohydrates
and protein. Refueling will mean you feel less tired during the day and
remember much more of your lessons, which makes studying for tests so
much easier!
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Show me the money: Avoid using lunch money to buy lunch. You will be far too tempted to
invest in pop or junk foods from the vending machine. Instead, opt for
homemade lunch and save your money for something useful. Help to motivate
yourself by putting your lunch money into a jar or savings account and
saving up for something you really want like a new skateboard, a game,
clothing or a stereo.
Making your own lunch takes time and discipline. If you don’t have
time in the mornings, try getting everything ready the night before. If
you are too busy during the week, consider cooking soups, pasta dishes
or meals on the weekend and freezing them in individual servings. Make
sure your lunch is interesting and appealing or it may just end up in the bin.
