in your opinion: is this a sufficient lunch for a 7 yr. old girl?

[amytug]

this is what I sent in dd's lunchbox today.
1 apple
1 med banana
handful baby carrots
handful almonds

what do you say? she drinks water. I'll explain later, but I REALLY appreciate your opinions!

[Tsurugi_Oni]

You know what they say about fats + sugar in one meal.... that's a no-no.

That's like what, 400-500 calories max? I'd personally forget the almonds and toss in another banana or two.

[DeniseM]

Having worked with a lot of first and second graders, I don't think that looks like enough -- unless she eats a lot for a snack before and afterwards. A child her age can need up to 2000 calories a day, and that lunch is probably only 300 or 400. Perhaps you can pack a large container with cut-up fruit (mangoes, bananas, etc.), or some dried fruit, raw applesauce, or something else calorie-dense?

[T-Bird]

looks fine to me. see if she brings some home or ask her if she needs more.

its' a good place to start....

Not everyone is into natural hygiene type principles of food combining.

[Lara]

Denise M.
I have an 8 year old daughter. That would fill her for just 2 hours maybe. If she has a solid snack max of 2 hours after lunch, she should be fine.
My daughter seems to have her blood sugar drop drastically in the afternoon, so I usually pack her a heavy lunch (as sometimes the snacks..well, let's just say they're not our choice for healthy eating).
good luck!
Lara

[amytug]

fats and fruits is a nono? :o oh! I bet that's in alyssas book huh? I haven't actually read the book yet- but I do plan to! today the library called and said they coulnd't get it from the inter-library loan so it's on my buy list :) can I read about it online somewhere until then? Maybe in the stickies? I'll look when we get back from taking my hubby his lunch he left here. silly guy.

I asked because I had my dd's taken off the school lunch program all together. They have this special thing I've never seen in any otehr school where if you finish your lunch and are still hungry they give you a pb sandwich. you know- usda pb and whole wheat bread full of hfcs. :rolleyes: I had forgotten about hte pb sandwich thing or at least thought it was only for school lunch kids. Well today my dd went and got one. She knows we dont eat that yucky stuff and I can't actually blame her for wanting to be like everyone else, but I ws disapointed in her thinking I'd packed enough. I figure they have aprox what- 20 mins to eat in, and thought that would be what she could finish in 20 min. she never brings anything home- says she eats it all, so maybe she does need a lot more. They don't have snacks in second grade here, so I think I'll pack more calories! thank you vm for all the replies- it really does help our decision making easier.

[Green_Woman]

see if she brings some home or ask her if she needs more.

Precisely what I was going to say. Ask HER what she wants to eat (that's raw and living, of course ;))... honestly, if your daughter is anything like I was at that age, I'd eat that much in about 5 minutes and be hungry 30 minutes later. ;)

Here are some suggestions I actually use for my college lunches that might also work for your young daughter:


Guacamole + Salsa + Raw Crackers
Raw Olives
Sliced Avocados
Dried Fruit!!!
Green Smoothie (in thermos to stay cool)
Sliced fruit or veg + Cashew Creme for dip!


I am in Classes anywhere from 8am/9am in the morning until 4/5pm at night and very often later. I usually bring ALL of the above everyday and STILL come home hungry. :D

[Green_Woman]

fats and fruits is a nono?

Honestly, I would not stress about that comment. I would not be so concerned with food combining just yet. :) The important thing is to get some CALORIES into that kiddo!!!

If she went for that PBJ sandwich, she was HUNGRY, Momma! :D

You know, you CAN make some killer delicious PBJ's that are raw/living, too. ;) Raw crackers or bread with almond butter and blended fruit jam.... yummmmmmmm....

[T-Bird]

I can't actually blame her for wanting to be like everyone else,

oh - it gets worse, trust me!

[kaybee]

yeah i think maybe she needs some more calorie-dense stuff. the veggies and apples are good but probably not calorie dense enough for the small amount of food that she has time to eat. Maybe add some kind of a dip...almond butter and raisins or another nut dip and yeah also some raw crackers if you can/want. That would also make her lunches more fun :) Also, what about giving her homemade nut milk or hemp milk or a smoothie that has nut milk in it in her thermos? that would add caloric density and proteins and fats, which might help be more filling too.

I REALLY wouldnt stress about the "not combining fruit and fat" thing. no, its not in alissa's book; its a principle of natural hygiene which is a specific type of raw foods diet. Dont quote me on this but I believe that I've read that even Dr. Doug Graham, who promotes the 811 high fruit low fat diet doesnt restrict his young (3 yrs? ) daughter's food combining...I believe I read that he said that one of her favorite snacks is apples and almonds. While some people may end up finding that avoiding combining specific foods works better for them, i think we should be careful about limiting kids diets too much with things like food combining...

[amytug]

Yeah- I don't think I"m going to restrict her too much. she's not even overweight (by the dr's charts anyway) but she's got some pudge that I don't even mention to her in the abdomen region. :) I'm mostly trying to get hfcs, and refined carbs out of her diet. Oh and hydrogenated oils. I'm incorporating more veggies and fruits (mostly the latter) for now. Thanks for the ideas!!!

I'll have to look up that "method."

[amytug]

Precisely what I was going to say. Ask HER what she wants to eat (that's raw and living, of course ;))... honestly, if your daughter is anything like I was at that age, I'd eat that much in about 5 minutes and be hungry 30 minutes later. ;)

Here are some suggestions I actually use for my college lunches that might also work for your young daughter:


Guacamole + Salsa + Raw Crackers
Raw Olives
Sliced Avocados
Dried Fruit!!!
Green Smoothie (in thermos to stay cool)
Sliced fruit or veg + Cashew Creme for dip!


I am in Classes anywhere from 8am/9am in the morning until 4/5pm at night and very often later. I usually bring ALL of the above everyday and STILL come home hungry. :D I just now saw this- I think maybe we posted at the same time! thankd for the ideas! I'll have to have them try these nut butters and casheW creme etc! she won't touch olives, guacamole or salsa lol. but you've got my gears turning!

[Traceyraw]

My daughter love celery dipped into a mixtures of aquava and almond butter. She also used apples.

[amytug]

good idea! I'm pretty sure dd won't touch celery. She's coming around slowly to liking veggies, but I'm glad I'm starting her at 7 and not 17, kwim!?

you guys are so helpful!

[kaybee]

amytug, --

check out THIS thread
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=9872&highlight=feed+kids for some GREAT ideas!

i think the more fun and tasty and creative you can make it for your daughter, the more she will enjoy it and not want "the other stuff". make it about fun, rather than about limits... maybe start adding in a lot of raw food so it naturally starts to replace some of the SAD rather than switching all at once?

[Green_Woman]

Amy: LOVE your Veggie Tales profile pic. :D Loved that show...


She's coming around slowly to liking veggies

Her taste buds are going to change and someday, she'll be asking YOU for Celery sticks and Carrots. ;)

[amytug]

kaybee and green woman! thanks for the link and the encouragement!! *hugs*