September 2, 2008 - With the recent national recall of ready-to-eat deli meats from the Maple Leaf plant in Toronto, some parents are shying away from sending deli meats in their children’s lunchboxes. With peanut butter already on the “do not send” list, there is a concern about what to pack.

Although ready-to-eat meat products can still be part of the lunchbox if they have not been named in the recall, Health Unit Nutritionist Janice Piper said there are alternatives to these types of meat.

“Despite the need to avoid the recalled Maple Leaf products, there are still lots of tasty, healthy and safe lunch options to choose from that are kid-friendly. In fact, filling your sandwich, bagel or wrap with something other than deli meat will boost the health value of your children’s lunch bag by lowering the sodium and likely the fat content too!” 

For those parents who want to continue to include deli meats for lunch, she advises they visit the Health Unit for a recall list or check the Health Unit website at tbdhu.com for information. For others who are want to switch things up in the lunchbox, here are some fillings to replace cold cuts:

• An egg, tuna or chicken salad sandwich on whole grain bread with chopped celery for crunch
• A mini-pita pocket, stuffed with hummus, topped with chopped cucumber or simply send a container of the garlicky chickpea dip with veggie sticks and whole grain crackers
• A wrap filled with slices of home-cooked chicken, turkey, pork or beef topped with grated cheddar cheese, salsa and peppers
• A ham and cheese on rye made with left over slices from a ham baked at home
• A hard boiled egg (peeled) with string cheese, cherry tomatoes and a mini-bagel
• The fixings for a parfait: yogurt, fresh fruit and dry cereal, to combine at the lunch break

Food safety should always be a priority for the school lunch. Here are some tips for lunchbox food safety:

• Start with clean utensils and wash hands before and after making lunches.
• Teach kids to wash their hands before they eat.
• Any food that comes out of the fridge should be kept cold by sending it in an insulated lunch bag along with a small freezer pack or frozen juice box.
• Keep hot foods hot by warming a thermos or stainless steel food jar with hot water before filling it with steaming, hot food.
• Wash all veggies and fruits before packing.
• Don’t re-send leftover sandwiches or hot foods.  You can resend fruit or veggies if they are still fresh.

According to Piper, one of the best ways to ensure the success of new lunch items is to involve your child in the planning and making of the lunches. Start by asking them to pick a favourite cheese or fruit and build from there. Visit tbdhu.com and search under “healthy lunches” for more great ideas.

END