Packing school lunches, worst mom job EVER, in my opinion.
I’ve been scarred after just a single year on the job.
So yeah, me and school lunches—-packed or served-—far from friends.
And just as I was reveling in the freedom from prepping and packing that summer affords me I see the Today show’s piece on kids, food poisoning and brown bag school lunches.
Greeeeaaaat!
Turns out that parents, who try so hard to pack healthy school lunches, are actually making their kids sick.
According to new research published in the Journal of Pediatrics, only one measly percent of home lunches are safe to eat at school. Experts claim that most sack lunches are not kept at a safe temperature in school. Consequently, kids are contracting food poisoning after eating their dinosaur-shaped sandwiches, carrot sticks and apple slices.
The new study warns parents that cold lunches should be kept at temperatures that are less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit, while warm food should be stored at temps that are at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit. When foods are not kept at the required temperatures, a child consuming them could end up with nausea and diarrhea. What’s more, when the symptoms present themselves, parents often think their kid is simply suffering from a virus when he is really dealing with food poisoning.
So what can you do to keep food poisoning at bay once kids head back to school with their Mystery Machine lunch boxes in tow?
For starters, experts warn to only pack fruit and vegetables that don’t require peeling or cutting. Studies show that produce is safe at room temperature if it is in its natural state. Once you cut or peel a fruit or vegetable it supposedly opens itself up to contamination. As a result, experts suggest sticking to green beans, snap peas, whole apples, dried fruit, cherry tomatoes, and grapes if you want to add healthy produce options to your child’s packed lunch.
Another way to keep home lunch safe is to purchase your student an insulated lunch box. Doing so will allow you to pack cold foods in ice or use built-in freezer packs that come with cooler-type lunch bags. If you can’t afford a fancy lunch box for your child, then inquire with school officials about keeping your child’s packed lunch in a classroom refrigerator or cooler.
What do you pack in your kids’ lunch?
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