Do you sometimes wonder what to send your kids to school for lunch? Parents wants their children to have healthy, nutritious lunches that they will still enjoy eating. While combining those factors may seem difficult, it’s actually quite simple and easy on your budget.
Here, Dr. Gilly Calcagno, your Rochester, MN children’s dentist, shares some kid-friendly lunch items that won’t wreak havoc upon their smiles or little bodies.
Delicious Lunches for Healthy Smiles and Growing Bodies
- Yogurt with almonds and strawberries. Rather than including a sugary dessert, try making a parfait out of plain yogurt, strawberries, and almond slices. The yogurt is low in acidity and provides calcium and vitamin D. Additionally, strawberries come loaded with vitamin C and almonds have high levels of fiber. When combined, this dessert item not only helps keep your kids teeth strong, it’s delicious and refreshing.
- Whole-wheat pita with turkey. Instead of reaching for plain white bread with peanut butter and jelly, your Rochester, MN children’s dentist suggest using pita and turkey. Lean cuts of turkey meat contain phosphorous, which helps fortify the enamel. Furthermore, the whole-wheat pita contains healthy grains that keep your kids feeling fuller for the rest of the day.
- Sliced cucumbers. Try substituting those bags of chips for a crunchy veggie instead, like, cucumbers or even carrot and celery sticks. Crunchy veggies help remove food particles from teeth and stimulate the salivary glands. Also, include your own homemade ranch by mixing plain yogurt with ready-to-mix ranch powder.
- Green tea, water, and chocolate milk. Wondering what your kids should drink? Adding a small can of soda might seem like a good idea, yet the acidic qualities of soda wear down teeth. A better alternative is chocolate milk, which is a double whammy health-wise. Dairy in general is great for teeth due to the calcium content and the cocoa protects teeth against acid wear and decay.
If your kids prefer a different beverage, iced green tea helps strengthen the gums and other bodily soft tissues. However, should all else fail, water is always a sound choice.
Find Excellent Pediatric Dental Care at Calcagno Family Dentistry
For parents who have sought a kid-friendly dentist, visit Dr. Calcagno. She can treat your little ones from infancy to ensure their smiles stay healthy and vibrant throughout their lives. To schedule an appointment with your Rochester, MN children’s dentist, call us at (507) 281-3659. Also, visit our website for services, before and after photos, and testimonials. We look forward to treating patients from Red Wing, St. Charles, Winona, Farmington and surrounding communities.
