When your child has diabetes, regular school lunches typically contain too many carbohydrates for her to eat. By packing your child's lunch or discussing appropriate lunch choices with her, you can ensure that she has the right nutrients without fear of blood sugar spikes. Before planning your child's lunch, it is important to establish healthy eating guidelines with your child's physician and set the amount of carbohydrates she can consume. The following lunches contain an estimated 45 g of carbohydrate.
Sandwiches
Because of their ease in packability and guaranteed kid enjoyment, sandwiches are a good option for most kids. Make a whole-wheat turkey sandwich with wheat bread and add nutrient-packed vegetables like sliced bell peppers, lettuce or tomato. Serve this with a baggie of sliced cucumbers and broccoli with a low-fat sour cream dip. For dessert, a small piece of fruit is low enough in carbs to satisfy and complete the meal. If your child prefers, you can put the sandwich's contents into a low-carbohydrate wrap in a flavor like spinach, tomato basil or whole wheat. A peanut butter and banana sandwich is another kid favorite.
Salads
Salads are a great lunch option for kids because they contain a significant amount of nutrients, which can enhance your child's performance throughout the rest of his afternoon. Examples include a iceberg, Romaine or spinach salad served with tuna or chicken topped with a low-fat salad dressing. Add in a small 6-oz. cup of light yogurt and 10 whole-wheat crackers to complete this lunch. Another option is a whole-wheat pasta salad made with light Italian dressing. Chickpeas, pine nuts and sliced vegetables can enhance the pasta salad's flavor. Serve this with a small piece of fruit.
Soups
Soups can be a nutritious, diabetic-friendly option for kids. You can pack them into individual containers. Pour heated soup into a thermos for your child to take to school. Examples of good soup options include chili or vegetable soup filled with nutritious vegetables like green beans, peas, carrots, chickpeas, artichokes or small pieces of whole-wheat pasta. Serve with 10 whole-wheat crackers and a piece of fruit.
Creative Options
If your diabetic child is a picky eater, adding some creativity to your lunch options can help. Examples include making an English muffin pizza using a whole-wheat English muffin, pizza sauce and cheese. Serve this with a handful of grapes and a cup of milk. Pinwheel sandwiches are another kid-pleaser because of their small size. To create, roll ham and cheese into a 10-inch flour tortilla and cut the tortilla into smaller rounds. You can stick toothpicks into the pinwheels. Serve with a small apple and peanut butter and a cup of milk.
