European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A amps Gus Schuet Llor Darmstadt Germany first graders John White 7, and Heather Johnson 6, savor their Box lunches. An important part of childhood development by Linda Lowe Morris the Baltimore Sun few problems in life loom As Large As a kid s empty Lunchbox Al 7 a. M. But you can to just throw in any old Dusty Sandwich and Call the thing done. What it your son tails asleep in the Middle of Long division and then fails somewhere Down the Road to get into the right College what if your daughter grows taint during kiddie gymnastics and misses out thanks to you on the 2004 olympics it is no exaggeration that a lot is Nimg on this lunch. According to a 1989 study a the relationship Between nutrition and learning Quot done by the food research and action Center for the National education association hunger probably has no permanent effects on the brain but it does disrupt learning a one developmental step is Tost and it is Dill cult to move on to the next one Quot hunger the study continues loads to nervousness irritability Lack of into esl in the teaming process and an inability to concentrate. A the hungry child is passive apathetic and timid and demands Little from his or her environment Quot if we remind ourselves How Little our children s stomachs Are say Meredith Brokaw and Annie Gilbar authors of the Penny whistle lunch Box Book one of two recently published books devoted to the Lunchbox Quot it is easy to understand the importance of the foods we give  the keys to packing something tasty and nutritious Are to plan ahead to chose foods your child is familiar with and to involve your children in the Lunchbox decisions. A a kids want to have control Over what they  says Ellen Klavan author of the creative Lunchbox Quot the More children Are allowed to select foods they enjoy the less Likely they Are to develop food lads or engage their parents in struggles Over food. This is True Al Home and its especially True away from Home where children have the most control Over what they  by consulting with your children about their preferences and by giving them choices you will increase the chances that they will actually eat what you have packed rather than trading for something less nutritious plan the Lunchbox meals so foods you want to use arc on hand. Tins can mean stocking your pantry and Freezer but it can also mean cooking things like roasted Chicken or muffins on a sunday night. A l i exr c cd Quot am Ylva it t b 4 l a a l x. Ltd f it Jjo a 4 i it. A # a a a a it 4 a it a a a parents guide to Box lunches the Art of Box lunches is two parts nutrition one part appearance by Linda Lowe Morris the Baltimore Sun t hink of the kids lunches when cooking the family meals. Leftovers make some of the Best. Lunchbox ingredients. Prepare extra Turkey or Chicken for sandwiches. Cook extra pasta for pasta salads. Bake Large batches of cookies or Apple Crisp. Include something in the Lunchbox for trading. Quot be sure to include a food treat that is valuable in his or her mind a an extra fruit leather or bag of peanuts or freshly made Popcorn Are special favourites among the trading set say the experts. Look for unusual kinds and shapes of bread a pita pockets whole wheat hot dog buns or dinner Rolls flour tortillas or Taco shells. A several sandwiches made on Small oils or muffins can be More fun to eat than one Large Sandwich. If your child Only wants Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches says Ellen Klavan author of the creative Lunchbox you can make them More nutritious by using whole Grain bread a Salt and sugar free Peanut butter and fruit Only jellies. Pack Cut up fruits. Use sections of Apple and Pear chunks of Melon and pineapple. Dip Apple and Pear in a i i a amps Gus Schuettner Theresa Robinson 6, surveys the next morsel. Orange or Lemon juice before packing to prevent disc Loring. Besides some favorite raw vegetables try steaming sugar snap peas Broccoli florets or Zucchini Spears and pack them with a Small Container of dip. Substitute air dried Popcorn for potato chips a 3 cups of Popcorn have just 70 calories. Do not underestimate the importance of the Way the lunch looks. Children will be far More Likely to eat the food if its packed in a Way that captures their imagination. Use cartoon stickers or seals to close Sandwich bags. Pack colourful napkins. Use pretty plastic containers. To keep lunches Cool pack them with commercial Quot Blue  or freeze an aseptic Box of juice to pack. It will be thawed in time for lunch. Pack Frozen foods recommends Klavan. Quot breads and muffins for example freeze Well As do Chicken drumsticks. Put a Frozen muffin in your child s lunch and it should have thawed by lunchtime. Using Frozen bread will help keep your child s Sandwich fresh. But Frozen bread or a Frozen muffin Isnit enough to keep an entire lunch cold.�?T�?T. Reinforce your children s concerns about the environment by using sturdy Nylon lunch bags and reusable containers instead of paper bags and plastic wrap. A amps Gus Schuettler hot meals and Box lunches in Darmstadt Germany. Poor nutrition contributes to poor learning. By the Hartford courant the following suggestions Tor lunch Box items Are fairly easy to prepare and should Appeal to All but the most finicky eaters Low fat milk is the beverage of Choice although fruit juice can be the stand in if the Day s remaining meals and snacks offer Calcium Rich foods a wrap a slice of cheese and a slice of luncheon meat such As Ham or Turkey breast around a Pickle Jellyroll style. Add some whole Grain crackers a three bean salad and a Bunch of grapes variation replace the Pickle with a breadstick. A Peanut butter and. Fill in the Blank with fruit juice sweetened Jelly of course fresh fruit such As sliced banana or Kiwi or chopped Apple dried fruits such As raisins or chopped dates grated Carrot crisply Fried lean Bacon baked Beans. Use whole Grain bread or a Quick bread such As banana Date or applesauce. Add Carrot Sticks and Melon balls on the Side. A As a change from pm amp a sandwiches pack a few Tablespoons of Chunky Peanut butter with raw Carrot and celery Sticks for dipping. Add a muffin preferably a Low fat commercial or Home baked variety or a whole wheat Roll and a Pear. A season cottage cheese or Yogurt cheese made by draining the whey from Yogurt with herbs and finely chopped Carrot and celery. Pack raw vegetables such As Broccoli and cauliflower florets and bite sized wheat crackers for dipping. Send along a Container of applesauce and a Small bag of Cheddar cheese Popcorn. A add flaked tuna or cooked Chicken and steamed vegetables to cooked pasta. Toss with Vinaigrette and chill. Whole wheat French bread some fruit and animal crackers round out the menu. A add chunks of leftover cooked Chicken to Waldorf salad a mixture of raisins and chopped celery apples and nuts. Use As a Sandwich filling or pack into a lettuce lined plastic Container to be eaten As a salad. Send half a Raisin Bagel and Low lat pudding for dessert a Hummus a Chick pea spread or falafel Chick pea and bread Crumb patties Are vegetarian Sandwich fillings. Stuff one or the other into a pita and add lettuce or sprouts and chopped Tomato Send along a Pickle or two and some sliced Orange. A turn a muffin into a main dish by adding protein Rich foods such As shredded cheese bits of Ham or cooked meat and chopped vegetables to the recipe. Serve with a thermos of vegetable soup and a shiny red Apple. A put sliced Tomato and Cucumber and a dash of Mayo on White bread Send a stick of string cheese and two Oatmeal raise cookies. A to give tuna or Chicken salad a new twist add chopped red or Green Pepper Black olives diced Pickle or Pickle relish. Use Low fat Mayonnaise or thin regular Mayonnaise with Plain Low lat Yogurt to reduce the fat Content. Spoon tuna salad into pita pockets lined with lettuce leaves or stuff it into hollowed out Cherry tomatoes to be eaten Wilh toasted pita triangles a mix Low fat cottage cheese with grated Carrot drained crushed pineapple and raisins. Spoon a few Tablespoons of the mixture into a lettuce lined plastic Container arrange fresh or canned in juice pack fruit around the cottage cheese and Sprinkle with nuts serve with a slice of Zucchini bread and Low fat pudding a use last night s leftovers roasted Chicken a Turkey Burger grilled Steak meatloaf a As a Sandwich filling or turn the ingredients into a Fork meat pack the Burger spread with a bit of Ketchup or relish into a plastic Sandwich Container Send a Small salad a lettuce greens coleslaw potato or Carrot Raisin with pineapple Are Fine. Add a slice of bread to go along with the Fork meal and fruit for dessert a make a Fajita by wrapping leftover grilled Chicken or Steak chopped Tomato lettuce and a Sprinkle of shredded cheese in a Tortilla soften it first in the microwave or in a dry heated Skillet Send red and Green Pepper rings air popped Popcorn and Peanut butter cookies for dessert a turn a salad into a pocket Raoul stuff half a pita with dropped tomatoes cucumbers Black olives and feta cheese As a treat Send com drips or let your child buy ice Cream for dessert. A Send a tint meal m a wide mouthed thermos pour boiling water into the thermos and let it sit while you heat Chili Stew Macaroni and cheese or soup. Pack the hot food into the dimmed thermos Send i Ackers breadsticks of bread and. With a vegetarian Stew or soup some chunks of cheese Carrot Raisin bars these Carrot Raisin bars derive 31 percent of then calories from fat slightly above the 30 pet cent guideline Viz cup Brown sugar 6 Tablespoons butter or Margarine softened 1 egg 1 Teaspoon Vanilla 2 Teaspoons grated Rind of Orange 3a cup flour v4 cup non fat dry milk 1 Teaspoon cinnamon v2 Teaspoon baking soda a Teaspoon Salt 1 Viz cups grated carrots 1 Viz cups Granola Cereal 1 cup raisins Orange Glaze 1 cup powdered sugar grated Peel of 1 Orange 2 Tablespoons Orange juice preheat oven to 350 degrees to a mixer bowl beat sugar and butter until thoroughly blended. Add egg Vanilla and Orange Rind beat until Fluffy. Add flour dry milk cinnamon baking soda and Salt beat until will blended mix in carrots Granola and raisins. Spread Batter into a greased 9 by 13-Inch baking pan bake about 20 to 25 minutes until tester inserted into Center comes out clean. Cool completely on a rack. Combine Glaze Marc Dinels in a Small bowl beating until blended spread Over top of baked recipe then Cut into bars 2vi by 2 inches makes 24 bars. Ham no Corn muffins Viz cup melted Margarine 1 Viz cups Buttermilk 3a cup Frozen Corn kernels thawed Viz cup shredded Ham 1 cup Cornmeal 1 cup All purpose flour 1 Viz Tablespoons sugar 2 Teaspoons baking powder 1 Teaspoon baking soda Viz Teaspoon Salt in a Large howl beat the eggs add the melted in Igraine and Buttermilk and sir stir in the Corn and Ham in a medium size bowl Combine lire dry ingredients pour the Cornmeal mixture into the Ham and Corn mixture and gently stir until All the dry ingredients Are mixed in. Pour into 12 greased or lined Mullin tins bake at 400 degrees f Lor 25 minutes Hummus Sylvia 1 is cups drained canned Chick peas 3 garlic cloves Viz Teaspoon Salt dash of Tamara japanese soy sauce juice of 2 Lemons 3a cup Tahini sesame seed paste a cup packed minced Parsley a cup minced scallions Black Pepper dash of Cayenne Pepper in Hie Tood processor Mash the Chick peas into a thick paste acid remaining ingredients and pulse on and Oil until lire More Dinels Are blended chill taste for seasonings Page 14 b the stars and stripes Friday october 18, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 15