What Happens in the School Cafeteria

What fate awaits your kid's lunch after the brown bag leaves your hands?

Three out of four kids admit to throwing out part of their lunch at least once a week, according to a survey by Oscar Mayer and KRC Research,. The nationwide poll of 1,000 children and 1,000 moms also found that one in three kids trade away items at least once a week.

While you may prepare your children's meals with nutrition in mind, they may have other ideas.

"Chips or other salty snacks" and "sweets or candy" tied for second place as kids' favorite lunch item, on the heels of the main dish. Meanwhile, vegetables ranked as the least liked lunch food.

Given their taste for the sweet and the salty, it's not surprising that kids trade parts of their lunch for sugar- or salt-laden snacks. Chips, sweets or candy, and other snacks (including cookies) are the most desirable items to swap for.

So what's a parent to do?

• Be a good example. If you eat responsibly and exercise regularly yourself, your actions will speak louder than any words you might have about good nutrition.
• Stash quick-and-easy health foods. Precut vegetables with low-fat or yogurt-based dips, small packs of dried fruits, low-fat string cheeses and the like can bring taste, nutrition and convenience into your kid's lunchbox.
• Educate your kids. If they know about the importance of nutrition, portion size and aerobic exercise, they might think twice before trashing the cantaloupe balls.

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