Nutrition staff of Mexicali’s General Hospital published recommendations regarding healthy food for boys and girls due to the return to in-person classes.

María de Lourdes Chávez Sánchez, head of Nutrition Services Mexicali’s General Hospital explained that the purpose of school lunch is to provide calories for children that need them to be active and, as such, perform well in class. She emphasized that a ”healthy lunch” is a meal that consists of several food groups such as fruits, vegetables, proteins, and cereals.

She added:

What we recommend for a school lunch is: a ham and cheese sandwich, jicamas, and cucumber packaged in small portions. A healthy snack can also be natural popcorn with no butter in a resealable bag. In summer season, to avoid perishable meals, one can eat a peanut butter sandwich with a sugar free strawberry, raspberry, or peach marmalade.

On average, children in elementary school need from 1,700 to 1,800 kilocalories, depending on their growth stage. That is why parents who wish to give their kids dessert the ideal thing to do is give them a sugar, nut, and almond free chocolate bar, not forgetting that hydration should be preferably with natural water and not sugary drinks.

Finally, Mexicali’s General Hospital nutritionist stated that the ideal thing is for children to eat five times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks in between meals), in small portions so that the body is able to use them through the continuous activities during the day.

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