ST. LOUIS — Students are out on summer break for the next few months and families should have a game plan for the kitchen.
Food and health experts note that summer is an ideal time for kids to learn what they should put in their bodies because they have more autonomy during that season.
Not only is it important for children to have access to food, but they also need the proper nutrients to fuel them as they go off to daycare, summer camp, or even spend time outdoors around the house.
Rita Chrivia, a clinical dietitian at Mercy Hospital South, has helped people maintain successful diets for a few decades and provided a few tips for parents.
"You want to provide healthy food that is enough to give them [the kids] the energy they need to grow and have fun because that is what being a child is about but you also want it to be things that are heat stable," she said. "Things that don't spoil."
Chrivia noted there are several factors parents should consider when feeding their little ones on break, such as how they are packing their meals and the best way to save money.
"Either recyclable containers or things that aren't heavy in plastics," she said. "We're seeing so much about microplastics in our foods, in our waters, in ourselves. So trying to get away from that. Things that are not individually packaged also tend to be a little more economic."
George Sells with St. Louis Public Schools echoed the importance of children having healthy meals. The district provides breakfast and lunch to students and their families through Camp SLPS.
"We all know that the body works better on healthy food," he said. "And so there have been countless studies and there are countless regulations and things like that to make sure that healthy food is being put in front of our children on a day-to-day basis."
Money Saving Tips:
- Create a budget
- Shop around to compare prices
- Plan meals; use leftovers for a different meal
- Avoid overbuying so that you do not waste any food
Summer Lunch Ideas:
- Sandwich or wrap with protein and vegetables, fruit, or potato wedges as a side
- Smoothies using fruit or vegetables
- Tuna Salad on a sandwich or with crackers
- Tuna Pasta Salad
Ideas for when the kids are at home:
- Keep things at eye level. Easy for the kids to grab and go.
- Fresh mixed vegetables (in the fridge)
- Fresh fruit bowl (in the fridge)
- Peeled hard-boiled eggs
- Cheese sticks
- Use leftover cereal, add nuts, and other snacks to create trail mix
- Add water to a pitcher or dispenser and add fruit.
5 On Your Side has compiled a list of places where free food is available to families for the summer.