Kids’ lunch? It’s the talk of the town. And the country. Because what our children eat is important to their growth, to their health and to their future.

One way to help them eat healthier is to let them have some choices. And learn to make good decisions. Feel a part of what’s going on around them.

That’s what Lala Lunchbox is for.

Confession: this is my daughter Gillian’s new App. It launched last week and kids throughout the world from Omaha to Oman are using it already.

First the kid picks a really cute monster avatar (mine is bright orange with jagged teeth). The food choices are in categories including fruit, vegetable, protein and snack (parents can limit what’s available) so children learn about what a balanced lunch has. They plan their lunch choices for a week and that translates into a shopping list for Mom or Dad. 

Another bonus: the decision has been made so you can prepare the actual lunch (maybe even the night before) without the arguing and the rushing in the morning when you are rushing to do everything else in your life.

This App is so simple that even grandmas like me can understand how to use it.

Your youngsters will figure it out in no time.

Go to the LaLa Lunchbox site and sign in.

Get the App directly here.

And use it!

Mother’s Day is coming — this App is a good, inexpensive gift for mothers of young children.

feedemright:

So interesting, ans a good reason to pack a healthy lunch for your child!

Unfortunately, school lunch has become a political issue. Which means that instead of actually trying to figure out how to provide our children with healthy food we are busy yelling at each other about a “Nanny State.” 

So sad. Because it is our own children who are the victims of this nonsense.

No matter what your political party, if any, wouldn’t you prefer that your children eat better than pizza, fries, hot dogs, pasta and fried everything?

No, no, for all of you who may be yelling at me right now. I did NOT say your kids should never eat a candy bar or a bag of chips. I am merely suggesting that if we feed the kids right maybe they will grow up healthier. 

They will feel better, look better and won’t be a burden on the health care system.

Isn’t that a worthy goal?

When I was a kid, I went home for lunch. The kids who stayed in school had a half American cheese sandwich plus a bowl of soup. I remember feeling sorry for them because they weren’t getting the good stuff my mother had waiting. By the time I got to high school, school lunch offerings were things like chow mein (tasted like La Choy canned) and spaghetti (tasted like Franco-American canned). Today it’s fries, fried, processed, carbs and more fries.

We can do better, can’t we?

I don’t want to get into a political fight with anyone, but I am in favor of the new school lunch law. I’m glad there is some new focus on healthy eating for kids so we can start somewhere. I look around and see a lot of fat children, many more than I remember through the years. I hear about the huge increase in childhood diabetes. It’s not good. 

A healthy school lunch 5 days a week won’t change the world. But it’s better than not doing anything and may make kids more interested in some of the foods they might get.

I remember the first time I ever ate broccoli. It was at college. College! In a dorm cafeteria! 

My mother had never made broccoli. It looked interesting so I tried it. I liked it. College broccoli! Imagine that.

So I told my mother about it and when I came home for Thanksgiving that year she served broccoli at our holiday dinner. We’ve been eating it ever since.

Okay, maybe I’m weird because it was broccoli and not some chocolate thing. But what I’m saying is that children of all ages can learn and some may actually like the food they get at school and they may tell their parents about it and their parents might make it and so on and so on. And maybe the world will change a little.

Stir-fried Broccoli with Orange and Chili Peppers

1 bunch broccoli

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup orange juice

2 scallions, chopped

2 dry red chili peppers

1 large clove garlic, chopped

2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger

1 teaspoon sesame seed oil

Clean the broccoli, peel the thick stems and cut the broccoli into bite size pieces. Pour 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil into a wok or stirfry pan over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli and stirfry for 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the salt and pour in the orange juice. Mix the ingredients, cover the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Dish out the broccoli, drain any liquid and set the broccoli aside. Return the pan to the heat and pour in the remaining vegetable oil. Add the scallions, chili peppers, garlic and ginger and stirfry for about one minute. Return the broccoli to the pan and stirfry briefly until the broccoli is heated through. Add the sesame seed oil, stir ingredients and serve. Makes 4 servings