Six Tips for Packing a Healthy Lunch

Proper nutrition is important for the prevention of, or management of if already diagnosed, diabetes. Valley County Health System (VCHS) Diabetes Education Program, along with the American Diabetes Association, promote good nutrition as part of a healthy lifestyle and to help everyone make better food choices.

This week, VCHS is celebrating National Healthy Lunch Day. The celebration is one day, but healthy lunches can last year-round.

Let's do lunch — a healthy lunch. Here are six tips to get you started with packing a healthy lunch:

1. On the weekend, decide what you will eat for lunch for the week and add it to your grocery list. That way, it’s quick and easy to grab healthy choices when you pack your lunch.
2. Consider batch-cooking on the weekend. Make a big pot of chili, soup, or a big bowl of whole-grain and veggie salad. These will keep for a few days in the fridge and can be eaten throughout the week for lunch.
3. Take five minutes every night (or morning) to pack something healthy for the day.
4. Use portable containers—such as a lunchbox, thermos, and various containers with tight-fitting lids—to pack and take your healthy lunch. Extra-small containers come in handy for single servings of peanut butter or salad dressings.
5. Remember food safety—if you don’t have access to a refrigerator to store your lunch, insert a cold pack into the lunch box and be sure to choose foods that will stay fresh and yummy from the time you pack them until it’s time to eat lunch.
6. For days you can’t pack lunch, keep some non-perishable healthy options at your desk, such as light tuna in water, whole wheat crackers, no-sugar-added canned fruit, popcorn, and nuts.

Build your better lunch! The VCHS Diabetes Education Program encourages our staff and the people in our communities to lead healthier lifestyles, which include healthy eating and exercise. If you, one of your family members or a patient you work with would like more information about Diabetes Education, contact Carrie Ourada at 308.728.4362.

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