According
to Dr. Oz’s site (http://www.doctoroz.com/), the University of Nevada School of medicine explains “There may be many reasons you may feel tired after eating
lunch. One common reason is that after a meal your blood sugar quickly rises as
food is digested.” Basically you eat and your body’s reaction is to jump onto
this blood sugar roller coaster. Heading
up the coaster it tells your muscles and fat cells to soak up that extra sugar. You've seen kids (and adults) on a sugar high – lots of energy, quick talking
and quick moving. But what goes up must
come down. So when the coaster is
heading down, the sugar is gone, the ride is over and you’re energy is over
too. We all know this phase as the sugar
crash. “Meals with a large amount of
simple carbohydrates (sugars and starches) tend to cause this blood sugar rise
and fall to a greater extent than meals heavier in proteins or complex
carbohydrates.”
A
is for ‘a little of this, a little of that.’ Kids are notorious finger food
eaters. Instead of sending a big thermos of something, consider tiny portions
that make it easier to pick up and eat. A little (immunity boosting) yogurt,
some (slow-burning source of energy) granola, rolled-up
lean turkey (for the protein) and some carrot sticks (for the vision helper
Vitamin A) make for a simple, fun and healthy lunch. 
B is for Berries: Joy Bauer, a registered dietician suggests memory
and brain healthy food choices like blueberries. Blueberries (or really any
berries will do) have been shown to reverse memory decline. Not just help with
your memory, but also actually reverse any damage. Impressive stuff for a tiny
berry, no? Dark, leafy greens like spinach; Swiss chad and kale have a ton of
folic acid in them that help with your brain health and memory. Fatty fish like
salmon or the plant based alternative, ground flax seed; both offer tons of Omega
3, which boosts your brain. Doubtful your kid will love some salmon at noon,
but flax seed is easy to hide. Just sprinkle some on just about anything from a
sandwich to a soup to a salad.
C is for colorful: Kids love color, so why not make their lunch
a colorful surprise? Red peppers (more Vitamin C than an orange), green apple
slices (packed with rich phyto-nutrients,
yellow chicken soup (protein and renowned healing powers) and some brown rice (all
that great fiber) make for a fun, festive and healthy lunch.
Use leftovers or make the night before:
Use your favorite falafel mix and either bake or fry balls. Once cool, put into one of your large containers.
Add a handful of cherry tomatoes to the large container with your falafel balls.
Prepare the baba ghanoush and put into your medium lidded container. Following is the recipe we used:http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/baba-ghanoush-2/Detail.aspx.
Prepare the tabbouleh: http://veganconnection.com/recipes/tabouli.htm and put into your other medium container.
Cut up a whole wheat pita and place into your remaining large container.
Make an omelet with cheese and your favorite steamed vegetables to put into your large lidded container.
Cut a lemon poppy seed muffin in half and put both halves in your other large container.
Prepare home fried potatoes, let cool and put into our medium container.
Peel and cut an orange into segments to put into your other medium container.
Shape a serving of risotto into a wreath. Top your wreath with pea sprouts, tamari almonds and a red pepper bow. Place your finished wreath into your extra large container.
Add steamed cauliflower and yam stars to the bottom of your extra large container.
Fill your medium unlidded container with mixed nuts.
Fill your medium lidded container with fresh pineapple chunks.
