In her statement, Dietitian Fatma Kileci Keskin of PAU Hospitals addressed the following points: “A balanced and adequate diet is of great importance for schoolchildren in terms of growth, mental development, and academic performance. Children should include different food groups in their daily diets and avoid packaged, processed, and low-nutrient foods as much as possible. To start the day feeling energetic, children should always have breakfast at home, with particular emphasis on foods containing protein and whole grains. Dairy and dairy products, protein sources such as meat and eggs, vegetables and fruits, and grains should be included in balanced proportions in the daily diet. In addition, children should be encouraged to develop the habit of drinking sufficient amounts of water throughout the day. The lunch box prepared for school should also contain foods that provide a balanced amount of the energy, vitamins, minerals, and protein children need throughout the day. The characteristics of the lunch box itself are as important as its contents in terms of hygiene and ease of use. To prevent food from spoiling, lunch boxes with an interior lined with thermal foil and designed to keep food hot or cold should be preferred. For easier cleaning, it is advantageous for the inside of the lunch box to be made of an easily wipeable, water-resistant, and stain-resistant fabric. The lunch box should also be lightweight and appropriately sized for the child to carry comfortably, with high-quality zippers that are easy to open and close. Models with compartments or leak-proof containers should be preferred to prevent foods from mixing or spilling.”

Dietitian Kileci Keskin: “Make Room for Healthy Choices in the Lunch Box”

Dietitian Fatma Kileci Keskin noted that homemade sandwiches made with whole-wheat bread and filled with cheese, chicken, or meatballs, as well as vegetable and cheese pastries, can be included as the main meal in the lunch box. She emphasized that dairy products such as ayran, kefir, or milk should also be included to provide calcium and protein.

Stating that seasonal fruits and vegetables that children can easily consume are also an important part of the lunch box, Dietitian Kileci Keskin continued: “In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables such as apples, banana slices, mandarins, carrot sticks, or cucumber sticks, dried fruits such as raisins and dates can also be preferred. Nuts and oilseeds such as raw almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts can also be added to the lunch box in appropriate amounts to provide energy and nutritional support. To help children develop healthy eating habits, the consumption of products such as sugar and sugary drinks, carbonated beverages, ready-made fruit juices, and lemonade should be limited or avoided as much as possible. Ready-packaged products such as chips, cakes, cookies, and cream-filled biscuits, which are low in nutritional value and may contain high amounts of sugar, salt, or fat, should also be avoided. Attention should also be paid to the consumption of fast-food-style fried or excessively fatty foods, as well as high-fat foods such as fatty meats, offal, clotted cream, cream, and margarine. The consumption of processed foods such as sucuk, salami, and sausages should be limited, and foods whose ingredients and preparation conditions are unknown should not be placed in children’s lunch boxes. When preparing a healthy and balanced lunch box, the main goal should be to offer a variety of nutritious foods in appropriate amounts that support the child’s growth and development and help them get through the school day feeling energetic and healthy.”