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What’s actually on the lunch tray 😮
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Hi Reader, What do school lunches look like at your kids’ schools? I have spent the past few months personally advocating for healthier cafeterias in our school district because kids deserve nutritious, balanced meals. And I’ve been shocked by what my kids’ schools offer – and what kids are actually buying. A school is a place where we should support healthy choices – in all areas, not just nutrition. But I’ve been told that because kids need to learn how to make good choices, we shouldn’t change the food. I would encourage the administrators who feel that way to look at it from a different angle. In what other way do we ever intentionally tempt kids to help them learn to make good choices?
Why should we make ice cream, cookies, and chips abundantly available to teach kids to eat them less often? I used ChatGPT to generate an image of what real trays at our middle school look like: From just the Oreos and Rice Krispy Treat, there is 30+ grams of added sugar there. We can’t blame the kids, and we can’t blame their parents, either. Schools need to create an environment where it’s easy to make good choices. And in case you’re curious – no, this is not what all school cafeterias look like! Many DO have nutrition guidelines. Ours just does not. 🫠 New This Week From Mama Knows Healthy After-School SnacksI know what the after school meltdowns look like, and a lot of kids need to be fed STAT! And when you’re running around to different activities, you need them to stay satisfied til dinner. I have you covered!
Ideas for Your Personal Holiday Wishlist This year I’m starting off by sharing ideas for YOU. Whether you fill your own stocking, or want to send a few ideas to your family so you get things you actually want, here are a few ideas I think you’ll love. Last year I asked for these and I’m so glad I did!
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Mama Knows Nutrition
Subscribe to get weekly inspiration with kid-friendly recipes, my personal meal plans, quick nutrition tips, and relatable mom tales that will make you smile, laugh, or cry, depending on what kind of week I'm having!
Hi Reader, You’re at the grocery store when your kid tosses a box of granola bars into the cart. “Can we get these?” You pick up the box, flip it over, and start scanning the label. Is this actually a decent snack? What am I even supposed to be looking for? If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a food label trying to decide whether something is a good choice, I’ve got 3 easy tricks for you. (Actually I deeply obsessed over what are the three absolute easiest things to remember — because...
Hi , I got an email last week asking about the avocado oil scandal that broke out this summer, and yes, we need to talk about it! A study came out that asked something I thought we could take for granted: Is your avocado oil actually avocado oil? Apparently not. A new 2026 study found that 89% of packaged foods tested that were marketed as containing avocado oil failed authenticity testing. That means some products may contain cheaper substitute oils instead of the avocado oil you’re paying...
Hi Reader, Have you noticed how many foods are suddenly advertising that they're “seed oil free”? I’m even seeing restaurants promoting that they are seed oil free. But does that actually make their food healthier? Not necessarily. And in some cases, it might be the opposite. What's the fear about seed oils? Seed oils like canola, soybean, and sunflower oil have gotten a bad reputation, largely because of claims that their omega-6 fatty acids cause inflammation. But research in humans...