Hy-Vee dietician gives tips for healthy eats for students

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – With some schools back in session, so is the daily lunch-packing hustle.

If you’re stuck in a sandwich rut, there are simple ways to keep your kids fueled up for success.

What parents are packing for kids going back to class certainly depends on their age.

Toddler and elementary students differ in nutritional needs compared to pre-teens and teens who are upping their fitness through after school sports and activities.

“Fueling teens is really critical and it’s a challenge because they have a high need for calories, complex carbs which is something that really fuels our muscles when we’re exercising,” explained Ruthie Chipps, registered dietician with Hy-Vee. “Having in the backpack, some granola bars that have protein as well, packing that fruit, a little cooler pack that includes yogurt.”

Maybe you’ve heard the term ‘eat the rainbow,’ which is a concept that encourages people to eat a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables to ensure they get a diverse range of nutrients.

“They want consistency and color, things that taste good with different textures so it’s a good idea to think about having a variety of foods, yogurts are very fun and simple,” Chipps added. “The food cups that are ready to go like the mandarin oranges or peaches, but have some protein in there, they [kids] love the cheese sticks.”

Why the morning meal matters!

Chipps also recommended incorporating your kids into the meal making process as ‘chef of the day!’

“I find that when the kids get involved, they’re more likely to eat healthy because we help guide them on include a fruit and a vegetable, get color on the plate, how do you design the plate, make it artistic, so it makes it fun along the way and then we can improve the nutrition as well,” she said.

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