Nutrition During School Age (6-12 Years): Growth Pattern: Packed lunch

Nutrition During School Age (6-12 Years): Growth Pattern

The school age, six to twelve years, is a latent period of growth. During this stage growth is slow and body changes occur gradually. The nutritional requirement is the same for boys and girls upto nine years after which girls out do boys and there is a change in some of the nutrient requirements for boys and girls.

PACKED LUNCH

Packed lunch have become a necessity for school children as it is not possible to have lunch at home. Packed lunch is a lunch in a tiffin box to be eaten by the child while away from home. Points to be considered while planning packed lunches are

1.     It should meet one third of the day's nutritional requirements.

2.     It should include food from all the five food groups though the number of dishes may be less.

3.     At least one serving of green leafy vegetables should be included.

4.     Food stuffs providing good quality protein like egg, milk or milk product like paneer or curd would improve overall protein quality in combination with vegetable protein.

5.     Variety should be present.

6.     Preferably the food packed should be different from that prepared for breakfast.

7.     The dishes should be packed at right consistency so as to avoid leakage or food becoming dry during lunch which may not be appetising to the child.

One fruit or vegetable salad may be included every day.

Following are two examples of a packed lunch.

1.     Vegetable pulao, onion raita, boiled egg, orange.

2.     Sambar rice, amaranath porial, vegetable salad and butter milk.