{"id":136,"date":"2019-08-10T18:49:49","date_gmt":"2019-08-10T18:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greatdentalexpressions.com\/blog\/?p=136"},"modified":"2019-08-23T19:00:02","modified_gmt":"2019-08-23T19:00:02","slug":"childrens-dentist-healthy-lunch-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greatdentalexpressions.com\/blog\/childrens-dentist-healthy-lunch-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"A Children\u2019s Dentist Gives Tips For Packing a Healthy Lunch For Your Child"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-137\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greatdentalexpressions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/A-healthy-lunch-being-packed-into-a-container-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"A healthy lunch being packed into a container\" width=\"353\" height=\"235\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greatdentalexpressions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/A-healthy-lunch-being-packed-into-a-container-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greatdentalexpressions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/A-healthy-lunch-being-packed-into-a-container-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greatdentalexpressions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/A-healthy-lunch-being-packed-into-a-container.jpg 821w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 353px) 100vw, 353px\" \/>The start of each new school year is a fresh slate and the perfect time to establish good habits that will help your child have a great year. One example is packing a low-sugar, healthy lunch each day that not only tastes great but also improves their oral and overall health. Along with scheduling a back-to-school checkup with a children\u2019s dentist, wholesome food choices are one of the best things you can do to prevent cavities and make sure their smile stays healthy. Learn more below!<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>The Impact of Sugar<\/h2>\n<p>Each time your child consumes something with sugar in it, acid is produced by the bacteria in their mouth that leads to tooth decay. Unfortunately, sugar is in everything these days, which not only puts a child\u2019s teeth at risk but also increases their chances of childhood obesity and diabetes.<\/p>\n<p>While it\u2019s fine for kids to occasionally enjoy something sweet, packing a healthy lunch each day will go a long way towards keeping them healthy. Here are a couple of general guidelines to keep in mind:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Read labels \u2013<\/strong>Since sugar is in so many processed foods, focus on whole foods as much as possible. When you do choose a food or beverage with an ingredient list, be sure to check the nutrition label for sugar content.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Be aware of hidden sugar<\/strong>\u2013 A lot of foods <em>seem<\/em>healthy but actually have a very high sugar content. Examples include many yogurts, juices, and dried fruit.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Avoid anything sticky or \u201cgummy\u201d <\/strong>\u2013 Foods like fruit roll-ups, gummy candies, or taffy that easily stick to your child\u2019s teeth are especially harmful. If these foods are eaten as a treat, be sure to brush your child\u2019s teeth afterward.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Easy Ideas For a Healthy Lunch<\/h2>\n<p>While each child has their own taste preferences, here are some easy, low-sugar ideas to get you started:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>String cheese<\/li>\n<li>Nuts<\/li>\n<li>Guacamole and veggies<\/li>\n<li>Deviled eggs, egg salad, or simply boiled eggs with salt<\/li>\n<li>Coleslaw<\/li>\n<li>Spinach dip with veggies<\/li>\n<li>Plain (sugar-free) yogurt with fresh or frozen berries<\/li>\n<li>Peanut butter and celery<\/li>\n<li>Lunch meat and cheese \u201croll-ups\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Popcorn with a little garlic salt and parmesan cheese<\/li>\n<li>Meatballs<\/li>\n<li>Olives<\/li>\n<li>Cheesy broccoli and cauliflower<\/li>\n<li>A small piece of dark chocolate as an occasional treat<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What Else Can You Do For Your Child\u2019s Oral Health?<\/h2>\n<p>Along with healthy school lunches, be sure to encourage them to brush at least twice a day and floss once. Many children struggle with this, but remember that their habits don\u2019t have to be perfect, just as consistent as possible.<\/p>\n<p>Also, be sure to schedule 6-month cleanings and checkups with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greatdentalexpressions.com\/childrens-dentistry.html\">children\u2019s dentist.<\/a>\u00a0 These visits are the best way to catch small cavities and other issues early on. You can also get preventive services like fluoride treatments to strengthen their enamel and sealants to protect their back teeth from developing tooth decay.<\/p>\n<p>These tips, along with a nutritious lunch each day, will keep your child\u2019s smile healthy the entire year!<\/p>\n<h2>About the Author<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greatdentalexpressions.com\/meet-dr-heather.html\">Dr. Heather Heil<\/a>\u00a0 is a children\u2019s dentist with 20 years of experience and also a mother of four. She understands the challenges of packing a healthy lunch for kids each day that doesn\u2019t put their oral health at risk and always gives parents tips to make it easier. If you have any questions about good dietary choices for your child, she can be reached via her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greatdentalexpressions.com\/contact-us.html\">website.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The start of each new school year is a fresh slate and the perfect time to establish good habits that will help your child have a great year. One example is packing a low-sugar, healthy lunch each day that not only tastes great but also improves their oral and overall health. Along with scheduling a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Children\u2019s Dentist Gives Tips For Packing a Healthy Lunch For Your Child<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It\u2019s back-to-school time! 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