How is everyone tracking along after almost a month of school being back?

By now, you are probably back into the swing of routines - with uniforms, sports days, after school activities, homework and that dreaded item that all parents are challenged with daily: LUNCH BOXES!

I know for sure that my wife is thinking of how to make good healthy choices while giving our kids’ variety in their daily lunch box contents.  I admit this sounds like a mean feat, as things such as nutritional value, simplicity (yes, the kids love spaghetti but it’s not exactly playground-friendly), taste, freshness, etc, need to be considered.  It would be so easy to just pile on chocolate, lollies and other sugary or starchy snacks into their lunch boxes…and we are all guilty of this from time to time!

But did you know that 50% of Aussie kids suffer from dental decay, mainly because of the sugar in the food and drinks they consume?  That’s a shockingly high statistic for something that is totally preventable.

So what can we pack for the kids to snack on and help stop decay too?  It sounds very challenging, but here are some simple tips: 

• Make sure that they are light and low in sugar.  Read the label – It’s not a good sign if the top 3 ingredients are sugar. (Avoid snacks that are gummy, chewy and sticky. Sugar galore!)

• Fresh is best.  Though packaged food is convenient, they are generally higher in sugar than the fresh options.

• Fruit is good but limit it to two servings per day.  Too much can be harmful to teeth too.

• Water is a must.  Encourage your children to drink water with every meal to not only hydrate them, but to help wash away any lingering food in their mouth.

• Veggies such as carrot sticks, celery sticks, cheese and lean meats are tasty options that kids can enjoy. 

We are pretty spoilt here on the Central Coast with a variety of markets on weekends to choose from. We have farmers’ markets such as the one on Sunday mornings in Gosford to visit for some fresh produce and fresh deli items or specialty health food sellers around.

Lastly, I’d like to remind you that as parents, we must teach children to take care of their teeth, gums, lips and mouth even from an early age.  These are habits that they will take through life and will impact their overall health.  Good habits and leading by example will go a very long way.

Happy 2020 school year! I hope that this will be a healthy and productive year for you and your families!