3 MOPINION BACK- -T0-SCHOOL LUNCH ADVICE FROM REGISTERED DIETITIAN + PACKING LUNCHES SCAN BEA 3 CHALLENGE, 2 ESPECIALLY FOR ¥PICKY EATERS, 4 WRITES BRITTANY 3 MCMULLA Can you believe back-' to school season is almost here? The return to Toe regular routine can be ex- king es can beone of those challenges, espe- cially When vo have a child ry specific food preferences. Asa reg- istered dietitian, here are my top lunch packing tips help make it a bit less daunting: AVOID LABELLING FOODS AS "GOOD" OR "BAD" - While it may be unintentional, clas- BRITTANY MCMULLAN Column sifying food as "good" or bad" can negatively impact your child's relationship with food, causing them to fear certain items. There is aplace for all foods ina bal- anced diet. TRY TO LET GO A LITTLE - Re- member, you can't control whether your child will consume everything, or anything, you've packed in their lunchbox. Your role is to provide them with a va- riety or nutritious options from all the food groups. Your child's role is to de- cide what is eaten and how much. As hard as it is to be- ieve... they really won't let themselves go hungry! LEAD WITH THE FAMILIAR - When encouraging kids try new foods, pair food they love with a new food they haven't tried before. Does d fill a few sec- tions with fruits, crackers and cheese that you know your kids will eat while re- serving a section for anew veggie! Involving your kids when creating the weekly grocery list will make them feel more involved in their food choices and more like- ly to try new items they have selected. REMEMBER THAT EVERY- ONE'S APPETITE FLUCTUATES - just like your appetite, a child's appetite isn't always the same. One day they might be eating a lot and another day they aren't hungry. Growth spurts, level of physical ac- tivity, and what they have eaten the day before can impact how hungry, they Try pacl fall of snacks so A ee options in case they aren't hungry enough for a full Nui utrition looks differ- ent for every family, so if you're struggling with your child's nutrition, I am here to support your family in your unique nu- trition journey. Asa regis- tered dietitian at Zehrs Bolton, I provide a range ofservices, suchas virtual or in-store one-on-one consultations, store tours, and recipe ide: ‘0 dis- cuss, book an Spoon. ment with me at zehrs.ca/ dietitians. At this time of year, it is also important to remem- ber those in the communi- ty that are not so fortunate. Research shows approxi- mately one million Canadi- an children live with food insecurity every day. For children whose families might struggle to put food on the table, back-to-school is a welcome time when they will have easy access to school meals thanks to President's Choice Chil- dren's Charity. Their pro- gram is essential to helping children learn, play, an grow, and. to ensure no child in your community goes hungry, consider do- at Zehrs during the Million Hungry Minds campaign, between September 8 and 28. CHEESY CAULIFLOWER FLATBREAD gy iovlarili + Quarter head cauli- flower +1 cup packed, shredded peeled Yukon Gold potato + 1/2 cup shredded moz- +1 free-run brown egg - e ret Hiei Freheat oven to 450" 2 oa?) king sh¢ with parchment paper. 2. Trim green leaves away from cauliflower. Cut into even-size florets. Place in food processor; pulse on and off until cauliflower bits are half the size of grains of rice. You should have 1 cup (250 mL). Place in microwave-safe bowl. Cook on. high fe for 3. minutes, stirring fway, or unt soft and cooked through. Transfer to large bowl and set aside to cool. 3. Squeeze excess water until combined. Pour onto prepared sheet. Press into an ll-inch (28 em) cir 4. Bake in centre of oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden and crispy. Using tongs, carefully flip over; cook: for 7to 10 minutes lon- gel until golden and crispy. Remove from oven. Flip over to original side. Cool slightly. Cut into six equal wedges. Brittany McMullan is a registered dietitian at Zehrs Bolton. Connect with the author via zehrs.ca/ dietitians. insidehalton.com GATTA HOMES Yoder [ted We are opening the doors to invite the community to an exclusive first look of our brand new model home! Have a glass of local wine and enjoy some appetizers while taking in all of the luxurious design details unique to Gatta Homes. Saturday, September 17, 2022 - 10am - 5pm. 28 Cottage Street, Niagara-On-The-Lake 2022 VISITOR GUIDE (ANH 0-4 2022 VISITOR GUlDE (NCH 4. 0-4. Scan to Download and read your FREE copy today! rf, | IHthe i iH New Hamburg * INDEPENDENT ca SPECIAL cli Issue - NTARI