What you feed your kid says a lot about you.

We all know how important it is to eat healthy, right?  I have been so disturbed recently to find out the way that children are being fed across this Country. I cannot imagine never feeding my kids vegetables, or sending potato chips in their lunch bags. Pop tarts for breakfast, and candy for snacks. It makes me sad, and actually a little bit angry.  Desserts are fun, and I love a good cupcake but they should really be reserved for special occasions, not served in place of a nutritious meal.
It really only takes minimal effort to provide your kids with healthy, enjoyable food.
Take it from a busy mom of 4:
It can be done!

Here's a typical breakfast for my 2 year old:

-Frozen peaches (we love these, it feels like dessert even though it's not)
-Heart-shaped whole wheat toast (no butter. why give your kids the extra fat?)
-Scrambled egg w/ salsa (Tomato is a "super-food" but ketchup is loaded with high fructose corn syrup)
-Low fat cottage cheese
-Water (kids need water. juice will rot their teeth)
The only thing on her plate I had to make was the egg and all I did was cook it in the microwave.
Of course, when I have more time, like on the weekends, I cook it the "correct" way.

On to my 7 yr old's lunch:

-Natural peanut butter & small bit of honey on whole wheat bread, cut in a circle (young kids LOVE things cut into shapes. Don't try this with your teen, haha)
-Cut apples
-Edamame & mozzarella cubes (I don't know any kid who doesn't like edamame once they try it)
-Carrot sticks (no salad dressing. kids need to know that veggies are good the way they are)


I cooked & shucked the edamame & cut the carrots the night before, which saves me time in the morning, and all I had to do was make his sandwich & cut the apple which took maybe 5 minutes at most.

I'd like to point out that the "lunchbox" my son uses was purchased for a mere $2 at our local Grocery Outlet store, and so was the majority of food, which makes eating healthy very affordable.

If you're confused & don't know where to start, there are a lot of great resources available for you.
You can contact your local W.I.C. office for nutrition advice and help with paying for groceries if you qualify.
There are also Food Banks in almost every community, you just have to be willing to take the time to look for them.
And if you're just looking for some great meal ides, check out some of these links:

Laptop Lunches
Easy Lunchboxes
Vegan Lunch Box

Please think about the food that feed your family.  Show them that you care about them enough to make the small effort it takes to provide them with healthy meals, not junk food. Nutrition=love.
Teaching kids to eat right is teaching them to respect their bodies, and how can that be bad?