In recent years, the government has cracked down on the quality of school lunches provided by public school lunch services, trying to provide America’s children with healthier options. In 2012, the government introduced some changes in their school lunch programs. There were some good updates like the inclusion of healthy fruits in the meal, lowering the quantity of sodium and fat in the meals, and also serving different kinds of meals to different grades of students. However, budget constraints and bureaucracy leave many students with unappetizing, unripe, and overall unappealing options (if healthier). Because of this, many students skip lunch, eat less, or begrudgingly take the food, which is still often of lower quality and health standards than a growing child requires.  

The biggest effects of unhealthy school lunch services:

Obesity

A big reason why there has been a steady increase in obese school students nowadays is in part because of unhealthy school meals. Almost one third of children in the USA are suffering from obesity. Although the government has recently regulated the calorie intake of the students, many are left unsatisfied but unappealing options and leave school only to binge on unhealthy snacks to make up for it.

Long Term Health Problems

Obesity is not the only risk. Any student who consumes too much of fast and processed foods can develop a lot of serious problems in the future. The risk of suffering from heart diseases, diabetes, and even cancer will increase. If the intake of vitamins and minerals is very low, then the students may end up getting tired and will struggle to take part in sports or physical activity only exacerbating the problem.

Mental Problems

Unhealthy school lunches can also mentally affect your students. Students eating healthy foods are found to be academically brighter. Unhealthy lunches decrease brain power and can also cause memory loss. Poor eating habits can also affect a child’s sleeping patterns, which may influence the student’s behavior and academic performance.

However, some school lunch services, such as eMom, provide an alternative solution to the problem of unhealthy school lunches. eMom provides school lunch services that are of the highest quality.

Benefits of eMom:

High-Quality Meals

They always make sure that the lunch given to the students is of the highest quality and contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals. There are no trans fats or unnecessary preservatives in their meals. All high quality ingredients are used. freshness and ripeness are of the highest concern so that meals are appealing while also providing key nutrients. The meals are also cooked in a healthy environment and the students will clearly be able to taste the difference once it’s lunch time.

Hassle-Free

Their school lunch services includes everything from cooking, cleaning, delivery, and also billing. You don’t have to worry about anything. This provides healthy meals to children while providing time to parents in the morning without having to hurriedly pack a meal. They also make sure that the food is delivered to the schools in clean containers.

Variety

They have more than sixty different kinds of unique items. From their delicious soups to their healthy sandwiches, there is something for every student. They also have separate meals made for vegetarian students.

eMom provides a quality solution to a real problem. If you feel that your child may not be getting the necessary nutrients in their school lunch, but you lack the time, knowledge, or skill to make attractive and healthy meals for them, then they provide the necessary solution with their school lunch services.

It’s one of the biggest cliches in the world: students hate vegetables. This unfortunate reality leaves parents to find creative ways to get their students to eat more fruits and vegetables. While students are open to eating fruits because most are sweet, feeding them greens and other vegetables is a tall order. Completing this difficult task is certainly worth it though. As children grow, they need to eat a balanced diet in order to develop normally. Failure to feed them properly may lead to nutritional disorders or serious illnesses later in life. One strategy that can help to tackle this problem is by organizing a healthy school lunch delivery.

A quality school lunch delivery program such as eMom offers children their fruits and veggies integrated into entrees that are kid tested. This makes the greens less intimidating to children, especially if they see other students are eating it too. This allows them to perform better in class because they are well fed with quality and healthy ingredients. There are many benefits that come with a healthy vegetable-based diet for children. In recent decades children have been fed more and more overly preserved and processed foods that lack important nutrients. But in even more recent years, many parents have begun to identify this problem and are looking for solutions such as school lunch delivery programs like eMom.

Studies done by Harvard University have shown that there is a powerful link between eating a lot of vegetables and the reduction in the chances of developing cancer. One possible reason for this correlation is that there are some fruits and vegetables that have properties that prevent cancer. However, the studies have not identified the specific fruits and vegetables so it is important to have a variety.

Another advantage of having a healthy school lunch delivery is that it has been proven that children and adults that eat more fruits and vegetables manage to keep their blood pressure within acceptable limits. With more people suffering from high blood pressure, the inclusion of vegetables in the children’s diet is likely to have a positive effect later in life.

Children are normally susceptible to common illnesses such as having sore throats and the common flu. Research done over many years has shown that children that consistently eat fruits develop a resistance for these conditions. Some fruits such as lemons are known to offer relief from conditions such as a common cold or a sore throat. Vegetables are also good for digestion and children that eat a lot of vegetables are less likely to suffer from stomach complications.

It is important to note that the preparation of fruits and vegetables requires a high level of hygiene. The fruits ought to be washed with great care to ensure that they do not cause an upset stomach in children.

 eMom understands the handling of these products and their school lunch delivery program maintains the highest standards of food hygiene and quality in order to provide your children with healthy and fresh foods that will help them stay healthy as they grow.

While Carbs Are A Dieter’s Worst Enemy, A Good School Lunch Program Can Provide Healthy Carbs For Your Growing students

Carbohydrates. The enemy of countless dieters, but is this often demonized nutrient the enemy of our children? No! Carbohydrates in a proper school lunch program are crucial in providing energy to rambunctious students. The very same energy that adults often avoid to get rid of fat, children need to stay energized. Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which replenishes cell energy and fuel not only your child’s playtime, but also their class time. If children are to stay active and alert throughout the day, they need to replenish their brain’s energy by eating high carb foods such as spaghetti, breads, and potatoes.

It is important to serve foods, through a proper school lunch program, with enough of the nutrients to fuel America’s growing youth. Children’s developing bodies demand high levels of energy as they grow which is ensured by the use of these foods. Not only their bodies, but also their brains are developing: demanding energy in order to reach their full potential.  Sometimes kid’s can feel full even if they haven’t gotten all of the nutrients and energy fueling they need. This can be due to overly fibrous, or empty calorie foods such as candy or even something unexpected like iceberg lettuce. High carbohydrate foods often contain many other important nutrients. For instance, potatoes, when not peeled, contain substantial amounts of fiber and Vitamin C. A serving of pasta provides a third of a child’s daily protein requirements.

Additionally, kid’s love many high carb foods. Pasta and potatoes are generally very popular with them, and they also serve as good carriers of other healthy foods. Masking foods such as broccoli or spinach, which are high in vitamins, in these foods is a good way to sneak them in during lunchtime. Finely chopped vegetables mixed into pasta will pass right under a child’s finely tuned radar.

Since carbohydrates are such excellent providers of energy for students and often good carriers of nutrients school lunch program should offer a variety of carbohydrates to ensure a healthy and balanced diet for children. One of the ways to ensure this is by hiring the services of school lunch providers, such as eMom, for your child’s school lunch program.

eMom is a school lunch provider that offers a variety of carbohydrates for children. They offer many foods high in carbs, such as various pasta dishes to fuel children’s play and learning.  

eMom avoids added sugars and empty calories that can be found in many baked products, soft drinks, snacks, sweets, and pastries that are harmful to children’s health and well-being. They provide an immediate spike in energy but are low in nutrition and cause sugar crashes.

A school lunch program, such as eMom, can provide the nutrients your students need to succeed. They help continue healthy habits you start at home in order to ensure the proper growth of your children. Getting actively involved in your child’s health by hiring eMom can have a positive impact on the way your children eat, learn, and play at school, making for a happier, and healthier child.

eMom is happy to present a new gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, organic, and 100% whole grain snack option! Late July’s Organic Sea Salt by the Seashore Multigrain Tortilla Chip provides an exhaustive number of reasons to choose this as a healthy snack. The Late July brand is family owned and operated and they are all about providing the healthiest, most natural, and unadulterated food options just like eMom. This snack accommodates just about any dietary need that could come to mind, from gluten free to vegan. It’s packed with nutrition as it’s made from chia seeds, quinoa, brown rice, and sunflower seeds. One serving is only 120 calories, while providing 2 grams of protein and fiber, as well as 6% of the recommended daily iron, and 0 grams of sugar. This tasty gluten-free option provides solid nutrition while navigating around just about any dietary needs. We’re happy to provide a new snack that will make your child look forward to lunch no matter what dietary need must be met. We at eMom are dedicated to finding new ways to ensure the safety and happiness of all children at lunchtime! We’re very excited to be providing this snack as an option in all of our lunches!

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