Healthier than ever
BY TRESA ERICKSON

When you were in school, you enjoyed taking your lunch. You liked your mom's homemade soup and fresh sandwiches. Your kids, however, think differently and prefer eating in the cafeteria. While that's good for you and saves you time in the morning, you're not so sure it's good for your kids. Pizza, burgers and fries aren't exactly the healthiest foods in the world. While those foods are still found on many school menus, school cafeterias in general are starting to get healthier.

Healthier trends in school cafeterias are on the rise. Some of these include:

• Lighter menus. Like many fast food restaurants, several school cafeterias are offering students healthier selections. Instead of the usual high-fat fare, students can choose from a wide variety of meals lower in fat and calories. The nutritional content of each meal is listed on the menu, and to give both students and parents a chance to look at the options provided, menus are sent out weeks in advance.

• Healthier ingredients. As part of their lighter menus, many school cafeterias are transforming high-fat favorites like pizza and burgers into low-fat delights. Students can fill up on pizza and burgers made with soy and low-fat cheese.

• Juice bars. Gone are the soda machines that so many school cafeterias once housed. In their place are juice bars offering students healthier options for quenching their thirst.

• Pasta bars. In addition to low-fat versions of their favorite foods, several school cafeterias now provide students with a pasta bar. Students can choose from any number of delicious pastas and sauces.

Commit to helping your kids develop healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime. Attend the health fair with your kids, serve healthy meals and keep your cabinets stocked with low-fat snacks. With any luck, your kids will listen, and the next time they're standing in line in the school cafeteria, they'll reach for a banana instead of a cookie.