Healthy Packed Lunches and Teasing in the Lunchroom

Today was the first day of school for my kids. I cried. I always cry the first day they go back. But this year, I didn't cry in front of them. They were nervous and excited--but they didn't cry because they, unlike their mom, are very grown-up.

So, early this morning, I snipped the tags off the new lunch boxes and peered inside. Empty. Could fill them with something that showed the kids how much I love them...something that says I'm thinking of them when they aren't here? Could I make this lunch stand in for me since I can't be there? Hum, I'd need a curly haired, somewhat neurotic lunch with a tendency toward disorganization. Nothing in the kitchen, besides myself, would work. And I can't fit into the lunch box, even if I use the secret-hidden-zipper that expands the lunch box to almost suitcase size.

I had to settle for packing a healthy lunch instead. But healthy isn't good enough either- the lunch must also not invite teasing from fellow students. Last year, some kids teased my son for having hummus. He said the teasers were eating junk food and he briefly considered telling them about the trans fat and piles of sugar they were eating. But, in the end, he just shrugged, told them they were "stupid," and went back to eating his hummus. Apparently, calling them "stupid" worked, as it so often does, and that was the end of it. Even though I usually discourage name calling, I was glad he stood up for himself--and his healthy lunch.

But this year, he's more self-conscious and he's going to a new school. And my daughter definitely cares if other's make fun of her for anything at all, lunch included. Of course, all kids have to learn to ignore other people's opinions sometimes and find ways to handle teasing. But I hate the think that the lunches I pack would cause them to suffer in any way.

And so I packed crackers (whole-wheat), cheese (2% cheddar), squares of turkey meat, some grapes and some orange pepper sticks (the most risky addition). I added a few kalamata olives for a treat--they're small and I think the kids can eat them without attracting unwelcome attention. After the first few weeks of school go by, and the kids have more friends at their new school, I'll talk to them about adding some of their favorite "strange" items, like salmon salad or smoothie ice cream. Who knows? Maybe we'll even go for hummus again...

Yogurts with Fiber...Watch out!

The other day my kids and I had smoothies while staying with relatives. Later in the day, we were all in terrible pain with horrible stomach aches. I asked if I could peek at the yogurt she'd used in the smoothie. And, sure enough, it was Stonyfield Farms brand yogurt.

About a year ago, my whole family started suffering from terrible tummy aches several days a week. I couldn't figure out what was happening. We weren't sick or eating any strange foods. It didn't occur to me that yogurt could cause these problems--yogurt is good for tummy aches, after all. But, one day we happened to have nothing but big bowls of yogurt for a snack and were in pain a couple hours later. So, I checked the label and saw, to my surprise, that the yogurt contained fiber.

So, I called the Stonyfield Farms consumer info line. The fiber in their yogurt comes from something called "inulin" which is listed on the ingredients list. It's made from chicory root fibers and is added for the fiber, and fiber increases calcium absorption among other healthy benefits. The inulin is also a "prebiotic" food for the yogurt cultures, though it's very possible to make yogurt with non-fibrous prebiotics. The person I talked to wouldn't comment on the stomach-ache issue.

But Stonyfield is not alone. Other brands are jumping on the fiber bandwagon. For example, Horizon brand organic yogurt contains something called "NutraFlora®" which also seems to cause tummy aches in kids. It's benefits are similar to the inulin, but I couldn't find out what it's made out of...that's proprietary!

I get that most people need more fiber in their diets. But, I'd bet that most people who eat organic nonfat yogurts are the types of healthy-conscious people who get plenty of fiber from fruits, veggies, whole grains and nuts. These artificial fiber additions to yogurt are totally unnecessary for a healthy diet!

Of course, these fibrous yogurts may not bother everyone. But, if you or your family members are suffering from mysterious stomach aches... take a look at your yogurt.