More and more kids are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, type 2 diabetes represents 45% of all newly diagnosed cases of diabetes in children and adolescents. Obesity is thought to be the No. 1 cause of childhood type 2 diabetes. Healthy eating, increased exercise and portion control are the major players in treatment for kids with type 2, especially at school.
If your child has diabetes, then most likely he or she is on a weight loss plan to help manage the disease. It's easier to watch your child's eating habits at home, but what happens when school starts? When a kid has type 2 diabetes and has to eat lunch in a cafeteria every day alongside kids who don't have dietary constraints, that can be a lot of pressure.
School cafeterias are usually filled with nutritional landmines. Traditional school lunches often contain starchy, higher calorie foods, such as nachos with chili and cheese sauce, pizza or chicken nuggets. Many items may have trans fats or corn syrup sweeteners in them. Plus, the a la carte selections are often chips, packaged cookies and other processed snacks. It's better to bring a lunch from home rather than rely on the cafeteria selections at school.
A nutritious and filling lunch may consist of a sandwich on whole grain bread, a homemade treat, fresh fruit, fresh veggies cut into slices or sticks, bottled water or 1 or 2% milk.
Homemade cookies and other lunchtime treats are usually lower in calories, fat grams and sugar than store-bought varieties. In today's fast-paced world, though, making homemade lunch treats may seem impossible, especially for working parents. Fiona Haynes, Guide to Lowfat Cooking; Linda Larsen, Guide to Busy Cooks; Laura Dolson, Guide to Low Carb Diets; and Diana Ratray, Guide to Southern Cooking all offer a wealth of quick, healthy recipes and ideas for school lunches:
- Low-Fat Chocolate Chip Raisin Cookies
- Low-Fat Brownies
- Peanut Butter* and Jelly Bars
- Applesauce Granola Cookies
- How to Make Low-Carb Trail Mix
How can parents help their diabetic kids stick to their healthy lunches and not be tempted by the onslaught of overindulgence all around them? Have them make the choices for what healthy items they would like in their lunch. Having control over what's in their lunch box may help them to be satisfied with what they are eating. Below is a chart of options. Have your child pick one choice from each of the columns to customize a different lunch every day. Variety is the spice of life.
*Allergies to peanut butter? I.M. Healthy is a brand of peanut-free soynut butters that can be found in health food stores, some grocery stores and online.
Source:
(2008, May). Overview of Diabetes in Children and Adolescents. Retrieved September 15, 2008, from National Diabetes Education Program Web site: http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/youth/youth_FS.htm#IdentifyingType2| MIX AND MATCH LUNCH BOX CHOICES | ||
| A | B | C |
| SANDWICHES | FRUITS/VEGGIES | TREATS |
| Peanut butter* and jelly | Apple | Homemade trail mix |
| Nutbutter and banana | Carrot sticks | Low fat yogurt |
| 2% cheese and mustard | Celery sticks | 1 or 2 homemade cookies |
| Low fat deli ham, lettuce and tomato | Clementine or tangerine | air-popped or low fat microwaved popcorn |
| Low fat deli turkey, lettuce and tomato | Plum or nectarine | Homemade whole grain muffin |
| Tuna fish with low fat mayo | Grapes | Homemade brownie |
| Egg salad with low fat mayo | Banana | Sugar-free pudding |
| Part-skim mozzarella and whole grain crackers | Orange slices | Low fat whole grain cereal bar |
