DEAR DR. BLONZ: As a teacher, I am concerned about what some parents give their children for lunch at my school. When I ask the children, some say that they have these types of foods at home, as well. I have been given the go-ahead to develop a nutritional lesson plan that involves doing a blog for the parents. What are your thoughts on highly processed foods for children? -- M.L., Oakland, California
DEAR M.L.: Highly processed children's meals are not the stuff on which long-term healthy eating habits are established. It is less of a problem if we are taking about whole foods that are minimally processed, such as drying or freezing fruits and vegetables. But if sweetened snacks and fabricated "foods" tend to be the routine rather than the exception, it's time for a reexamination of priorities.
I think the blog is a great idea, but I would proceed cautiously. The idea is to enlist, not alienate. One strategy I used, when speaking to students at my son's middle school, was to scan the labels of children's favorite foods with them. I went through the ingredients, explaining which were good for them and which were not (and all the various ways of naming "sugar"). The outcome was that the children went home and started lecturing their parents on ingredients! The lesson can be eye-opening, and also quite entertaining.
A child's interest in healthy eating really should be home-grown, so to speak. In your lesson plan, you might consider sharing ideas that involve the whole family. For instance, parents can get kids involved in menu planning: Discuss options for upcoming meals, and ask for input. If there is more than one child, they can take turns helping to plan meals.
Asking children to name their favorite vegetables or fruits, and then letting them pick them out at the market, may increase the odds that they'll eat them. Parents also need to have kids help with meal preparation, whether it's making a lunchtime sandwich, helping measure ingredients or simply arranging food on a serving plate.
Whenever possible, take kids along on shopping trips; just make sure they've been fed beforehand. At the grocery store, children are on the receiving end of a tremendous amount of marketing -- cartoon-character promotions, end-aisle displays, colorful package designs, kid's-eye-level placement of snack foods -- all designed to influence them, and consequently, their parents' purchases. A full stomach can help them navigate this manipulation, as can their new knowledge from your blog.
All these efforts will have greater chances for success if they are designed to work together, and if the parents are on board. Lessons about the nutritional value of various foods, and their importance for growth and good health, can provide a foundation to establish healthful habits for life. I applaud your energy and wish you well in your efforts.
Send questions to: "On Nutrition," Ed Blonz, c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO, 64106. Send email inquiries to questions@blonz.com. Due to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.