Healthy lunch, back to school has arrived

The vacation is over and school is back. To help our children learn more and better, here are some facts and tips regarding their lunch or nutrition at school. In Mexico, there is a problem. One in three children in the country suffers from obesity, a third of our child population is poorly nourished, and the consequences can be terrible. Of that third, 22% suffer from hyperthyroidism, and worse, the concentration of these children is distributed in only five states of the country, one of which is Mexico City. These data presented by the Faculty of Medicine of UNAM position Mexico as the number one country in childhood obesity, surpassing the United States. The most serious issue is that the average age at which these children present such symptoms is around 10 years old. It is at this moment, according to Dr. Felipe Vadillo from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, that young people begin to develop diseases that can affect them for the rest of their lives. Solutions? There are many, but the primary one starts at home. Children and sweets are best friends, we know that, and there is no problem in allowing them to have some chocolates or lollipops as long as it is within a balanced diet. Specifically at school, children need energy to concentrate and perform at 100% in their studies. Therefore, the most important thing is to enjoy a complete and nutritious breakfast. Make sure that before leaving home they have a piece of fruit, preferably solid and not in juice, along with some protein (it could be eggs) and some carbohydrate like cereal or oatmeal. This mix will ensure efficient metabolic work during the first hours of classes. At lunchtime, there are very easy and quick alternatives that also include all the necessary food groups. One of the most common is a sandwich; if it contains, in addition to the bread, protein like ham, fat in cheese, and vegetables like lettuce and tomato, then a balanced lunch is obtained. Another simple option is to send them grated carrots and cucumbers with lime and chili piquin as a snack to cover the vegetable and vitamin part, and maybe prepared sausages to not miss the protein part. The most common mistake made by parents is giving money to children to buy their own lunch as they still do not have the food awareness that dictates preferring health over cravings.   Lunch Recipes Recipe for Fruit and Vegetable Skewers for Lunch Ingredients: - 1 kiwi peeled and cut into 1-centimeter thick slices - 5 small strawberries, washed and disinfected - 2 to 3 large carrots, cut into 3 parts - 1 stalk of celery - 100 grams of cottage cheese Did you like this recipe to give your children for lunch? Click here to find the procedure.   Recipe for Tuna Sandwich with Yellow Cheese Ingredients: - 4 white sandwich breads - 1 can of tuna - 1 1/2 tablespoons of mayonnaise - 4 slices of yellow cheese To prepare this recipe for your children's lunch click here to see the steps.   Recipe for Dehydrated Apple Bites Ingredients: - 2 red apples - 2 tablespoons of sugar or to taste - 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon To see the steps to prepare this recipe click here.   It has been proven by UAM that well-nourished children are 63% more efficient in class than those who follow a less ideal diet. The nutrients in a balanced diet are likely to improve attention and reception of new information in school classrooms. Is an ice cream or some chips too much during recess? No, even adults have our food weaknesses, and that's okay, but they do not pose any problem at all as long as those slip-ups are within a framework of health and good eating. If you want to find more lunch ideas for your children click here.   What is your children's favorite lunch?