ANHE

If you are a parent of young children that require you to pack their lunches or of any student that buys lunch, you are often faced with the dilemma of what to feed them.  Will they like it?  Will they eat the healthy food first and save the goodies for last?  But in today’s world other questions are equally if not more important – like what to pack it in and what is in the food on their tray? 

A recent study from Italy found higher levels of phthalates in school-fed children due to the packaging material.  This one meal was enough to elevate phthalates in their blood to near the maximum daily intake levels thought to be safe by the European Union's food safety authority.

So what’s a nurse to do to ensure good nutrition without chemical invasion?

• Send reusable lunch bags, thermoses, and utensils to reduce waste.
• Provide organic foods when possible to reduce exposure to pesticides and growth hormone.
• Advocate for phthalate-free packaging of food used in school lunches.
• Advocate for local farm-to-school programs to provide sustainable food and reduce the carbon footprint.  Not only does a farm-to-school program provide local foods that do not require the use of pesticides, preservatives, and long-distance transportation, but also offers the opportunity for educational field trips and hands-on experiences. 
• Advocate for a school garden at your child’s school. School gardens can provide fresh fruits and vegetables for use in the school cafeteria as well as provide an opportunity for integration into many different areas of their curricula – science, math, history, and more.  It is also possible to use what is grown as income for school projects and programs.

Watch this 9 minute video on School Gardens:

See also the information on PVC-free lunchboxes in CHEJ’s Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies