eMom is proud to now provide a new gluten-free, non-GMO snack option in our school lunches! The Way Better Snacks brand unlocks nutrients through their unique method of incorporating sprouted seeds, beans, and grains. The Apple Cinnamon Spice Tortilla Chip makes for a nutritious, easy to digest, gluten-free, and not to mention tasty snack! We chose to add this snack option because it is perfect for accommodating children with celiac disease or other gluten intolerances so that they too can have a tasty treat. This delicious tortilla chip not only provides a gluten free option, but also provides big nutrition with the Way Better Snacks “simply sprouted” slogan. One serving is only 130 calories, but packs a nutritious punch by providing Calcium, Iron, and Vitamin A. They even have 2 grams of protein and fiber in this tortilla chip, while keeping sugar intake at a minimal 2 grams as well. At eMom we want to ensure that every child has a chance to eat something that is delicious and healthy. It’s important for your children to be excited to eat and for you to rest easy in the knowledge that it is healthy and safe for them. We’re proud to offer this new and exciting snack to accommodate children with gluten-free dietary needs!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and students love to celebrate. They get so excited picking the perfect Valentine cards to share with classmates, pawing through candy conversation hearts to find just the right messages for their friends, and making what seems like hundreds of construction paper hearts and taping them up all over the house.

With all of the excitement for Valentine’s Day being centered around the long-awaited class party, we decided to gather some fun and healthy Valentine’s Day themed school lunch ideas to keep the celebration going. Imagine how surprised your little one will be when they open their lunchbox to find these incredible edible delights.

Hearts Galore

You can turn just about any food item into a love-filled, heart-shaped morsel in about 2 seconds with a simple cookie cutter. You can purchase various size heart-shaped cookie cutters at dollar stores and have fun with this project without having to break the bank. Cut your child’s sandwiches, fruit, or even pizza into heart shapes and send them to school in your child’s lunchbox. They will have so much fun noshing on their Valentine cuisine and who knows, they just might share the love with a friend.

Say I Love You With A Special Note

We found these free school lunch printable notes that are just super adorable. These are better than your regular store-bought Valentine cards because there is space to write a personal note to your child. Imagine how special your students will feel when they open their lunchboxes to find a unique, hand-written note from mom or dad. Just print out the cards, cut them apart, add your message and place in your child’s luchbox. And hey, who said you can’t use the extras on ordinary days throughout the year?

Candy For Lunch?

This is one of our favorite ideas. Take a large plastic heart-shaped candy box and remove the chocolates. (You may want to hide these in a safe place for when those chocolate cravings strike.) Fill each of the holes in the box with a nutritious food such as whole wheat cereal, banana slices, apple chunks, raisins, cheese crackers, or grapes. students love having choices and when you load the candy box with all of their favorite foods, lunch is sure to be a Valentine’s Day hit.

Heart-Shaped Hard Boiled Eggs

We loved the creativity that went into this next one. You’re students are not going to believe how you were able to create heart-shaped hard boiled eggs. They will be completely amazed and you will be the hit of the lunchroom.  Not to worry, no chickens were harmed in the making of these hard boiled eggs. Just follow these simple instructions we found on annathered.com and you are on your way.

Mini Muffins

Every kid loves mini muffins, so why not create some special muffins for Valentine’s Day? These would be great as an afternoon snack or in addition to a healthy lunch. Make a few extras and stash them away for later. Who says you can’t cash in on the Valentine’s Day fun too? The easiest way to create these muffins is to line your mini muffin tins with papers as usual, fill with muffin batter, and then place a marble between the tin and the paper to create the heart indention on the top of the muffin. Bake according to the instructions and voila, you have some crazy-cute muffins to share with your little ones.

As always, we would love to know what you think about this post. Feel free to leave a message in the comments section below and tell us which Valentine’s Day lunch idea was a hit in your home.

students are known for having a sweet tooth and tend to reach for any candy and sugar in sight. Unfortunately, these candies that children love so much are high in refined sugars. These sugary treats can have a very negative impact on the oral health of children as they tend to consume them like their life depends on it. There are a variety of tasty, colorful, and healthy food options that can strengthen their teeth and improve their oral health. eMom provides a convenient Orange County school lunch program option, cost effective meal delivery service that specializes in a provision of healthy, tasty foods, and ingredients that are packed with important nutrients and elements necessary for healthy growth and development of children.

HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS

1. Citrus Fruits

The spokesman for the Academy of General Dentistry, Melvin Pierson, DDS states that different types of bacteria present in a child’s mouth can cause gingivitis, which is the first stage of gum disease. Citrus fruits which are high in Vitamin C such as Oranges, Lemons, Papaya and Strawberries annihilate these bacteria, while supplying needed collagen to the gums. While citrus fruits are essential for the child’s teeth, the fruits citric acid can temporarily deface the tooth’s enamel. This loss of enamel leaves the teeth susceptible to erosion caused by brushing. Dentists recommend that students wait for at least half an hour before brushing their teeth after they have filled their stomachs with citrus foods or meals. eMom, a Orange County school lunch program provider, specializes in only the best, carefully selected farm fresh fruits that are guaranteed to boost kid’s oral hygiene.

2. Dairy Products

Cavities are caused by acidity brought about by certain starchy foods and carbohydrates like potatoes, breads, and pastas. These foods, once ingested, break down into sugars that feed oral bacteria in students mouths that aid bacteria. Calcium, Phosphate, and Vitamin D, which are found in dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, or milk work themselves in with plaque and stick to the teeth. This in turn allows the nutrients to increase the Phosphate levels. The end result is the reduction of acidity, repair of damaged enamel, bone rejuvenation and reduction of tooth decay.

3. Healthy Vegetables

Family Dentist, Jimmy Wuu, DDS of Santiago advises that vegetables are good for naturally scraping away the remains and remnants of plaque from the corners and hard to reach places of students mouths. He also elaborates how these crunchy foods should be encouraged by parents because of how they mechanically cleanse the mouth when chewing. eMom, the top Orange County school lunch program provider, takes care of the ordering, cooking, billing, delivery of these healthy meals effortlessly from a certified commercial kitchen. The meals are carefully wrapped with all the hygienic standards implemented and delivered in warm and fresh conditions. All their meals come with a beverage choice, fresh fruit, or vegetable a snack.

4. Nuts and Seeds

Oils found in nuts and seeds primarily strengthen the teeth enamel making them more resistant to cavities. Pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds contain the necessary active ingredients and also contain calcium which aids in the protection of bones.

5. Sugar Free Gum

Saliva naturally loosens plaque while increasing the number of natural antibodies in the mouth. American Dental Association states that chewing on a piece of sugarless gum for more than 20 minutes after meals can help prevent tooth decay.

Unhealthy “Foods” to Avoid

Sugary and sticky foods only enhance damage to enamel and they can be controlled if not avoided. Some of these foods are

1. Fruit drinks with high fructose syrup
2. Bubble gum
3. Raisins
4. Sweets and hard candy
5. Carbonated drinks and sodas
6. Caramel and chocolate
7. Potato chips
8. Honey
9. Taffy

If you are searching for a Orange County school lunch program, eMom has over 60 unique scrumptious entrees of fresh salads, vegetarian dishes, and tantalizing fruits and health snacks. They offer a wide range of foods that cater for every taste bud and strive to always introduce new delicacies. Their meals contain no preservatives and are all handled by their well-trained team.

Orange County School Lunch Program: Parent’s Can Be NUTS About Food Allergies – Why You Should Too

Every parent of a school age child will attest to how common food allergies have become. Did you know that 25% of food related allergic reactions were in children with no known allergies?

This means that while a child may not have had a previous reaction, the parent should still be ready for the possibility. If a child has had even a minor allergic episode in the past, they are significantly more likely to have a major episode in the future. Orange County school lunch program providers like eMom are working to eliminate these types of reactions by providing allergy safe food; unfortunately, not every lunch room is that lucky today. By leaving major allergens on the menus, the school districts are creating an environment that tempts children to eat food that they may have a serious reaction to. There is no way to predict when or where a child may have a food related reaction.

One of the most important things to teach children is to respect other children’s boundaries. Young students may not realize how serious a food allergy can be and pick on those with an allergy. This can lead to isolation, teasing, and bullying. In the worst case scenario, a child may eat a food that they know is not good for them in order to feel like part of the group. By teaching your child to respect their peer’s boundaries, you eliminate the opportunity for bullying. These lessons can be reinforced by working with a Orange County school lunch program provider like eMom to create fun, allergy friendly meals that will be safe for your children to share. By providing foods with no known allergens, you will reduce the probability of causing a food related reaction in a child.

A recent study found that one in three children has been bullied for their food allergy. Food Allergy & Research Education (FARE) works to educate both parents and school districts about how serious an allergic reaction could be. This seriousness was illustrated after a first-grad Virginia student, Amarria, died after eating a peanut. The legislation at the time did not allow school staff to give a child another’s medication, even in time of crisis.

The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act provides special grants to schools that stock the medication necessary to stop a serious allergic reaction. FARE helped push for the Epinephrine act in 2011 when food allergy research was on the rise. They were able to push through the legislation in 2012 with the help of concerned parents. Now that this legislation has passed, children like Amarria could be saved by the epinephrine that is stocked in schools around the country.

There are now hundreds of groups that work to educate family and children with allergies. They explain how to turn down tempting foods, how to choose what to eat when going out, and many other aspects of eating with a food allergy. Orange County school lunch program companies like eMom continue to support education about food resources in schools. These companies pack and provide lunches that are allergy friendly and still kid-approved.

While you may not have a child with an allergy, your food choices still have an effect on children who do. If you are concerned about the food quality in your school, speak to the principal about a Orange County school lunch program like eMom who will ensure all children have safe, healthy lunches.

Photo from Food Allergy Ninja

As a provider of fresh and organic food, that is dedicated to titillating your child’s taste buds while stimulating their healthy development, eMom , one of Orange County’s leading school lunch program providers, has been engrossed in research bringing light to foods that should be kept away from our loved ones. As a parent, establishing an enjoyable dietary routine for your child may be difficult. This is why you need full clarity as to what foods you need to limit your child’s consumption of, however enticing it may be.

Recent trends in the soda industry targeted at young students have suggested steering towards the artificially sweetened stuff may be the best option for your child. This has drawn criticism from many about the drawbacks of these sweeteners as well as children’s soda consumption. On the other hand, those whose students frequently drink the beverage feel reassured they have been provided with an alternative that may be healthier for their little ones. In the midst of this debate arose the results of a study published in The Journal Of Pediatrics, which established a clear correlation between soda consumption and aggressive behavior in children.

Can Soda Make Your Child Aggressive?

The study, conducted on 3,000 five-year-olds from around the country, observed that almost half of the children (43%), consumed at least one serving of soda a day. The study involved the mothers filling out information about their children’s diet, habits, and behavior over the course of two months.

The level of aggression their children displayed was measured on a scale of 1-100, 50 being the benchmark for average aggression levels while anything above 65 suggested worrisome aggressive behavior. The lead conductor of the study, Shakira Suglia of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public health, claims anything above the latter level (65) required an evaluation of the child for possible pathologies of violence and aggression.

students that drank no servings of soda scored on average 56 on the aggression scale, as opposed to a 62 for those that reportedly consumed about four servings a day. The relative similarities in all other factors relevant to the study – the tv the students watched, the candy they ate, the hours of sleep they got – suggested a clear link between the amount of soda they drank and their aggression scores. Higher aggression levels were characterized by tendencies to destroy other children’s toys, get into fights, or attack people.

What Does This Mean For Your students?

Though the research shows clear patterns of aggression in students consuming soda in high quantities, discernible differences are only present when the consumption is frequent and excessive. There is no true evidence that occasionally drinking naturally or artificially sweetened soda will have a nefarious effect on your child’s behavior. As we at eMom attest with our carefully crafted meal and school lunch program plans, an occasional treat will neither harm your child nor decrease their interest in healthy foods. Variation is key.

Related Article: The Top 6 Snack Ideas Your students Will Love

It must however be noted that treating your child to their favorite soda needs to be done within reason. Besides encouraging hyper-activity, the high levels of sugar in soda can lead to obesity, diabetes, and other life-threatening issues if consumed often. Meanwhile, artificial sugar increases appetite, contributes to unhealthy dietary choices, and can become addictive.

Striking The Right Balance

As soda has no key nutrients that will help students grow optimally, eMom believes they shouldn’t be considered essentials to accompany your child’s meals. We think that in teaching your child to enjoy natural alternatives, you divert their interest from the soda they may have grown to love too much and steer it towards scrumptious healthy snacks involving fruits and energizing, natural sugar.

You may also consider planning when your students should be treated with the beverage to avoid sharp peaks of energy in your child that could lead to aggression or loss of attention. Allowing soda on weekends will give them something to look forward to and they will actually be able to play the energy boost away. Should you lean more towards non-sugary alternatives, make sure they are FDA approved. It is also advisable to pick the drinks with the lowest caffeine content, as it is addictive and has a much stronger effect as a stimulant on children. Sodas do not hydrate anywhere near as much as water does, and so aren’t the best option when your students are exercising. Though vitaminized water may appear a good option, eating eMom’s highly nutritious meals would already provide your child with all the vitamins and energy they may need.

For more information on how eMom helps students and parents prevent this problem, or if you are interested in any Orange County school lunch program, contact us today.

Photo from FoodBeast.com