It’s that time of year when school bells have been quieted and camp buzzers sound the wake-up call to the true beginning of summer. Keeping campers nourished always poses its own parental dilemma. First off, what does the camp provide? How about the ones that give kids chocolate milk as an option for AM snacks? Did they not question the popularity of that decision (from campers) and its unpopularity from parents who wondered if the camp was clueless about childhood obesity. Anyway spiking hot temps and chocolate milk do not sit too well! Too vivid an outpouring. Sorry.
So how do we fulfill our parental role of providing good, healthy snacks and lunches while avoiding the easy-out pitfalls? Think this is the time for low-sugar drinks and fruit slices and bars. Eliminate the high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from the diet and find a healthy solution.
Now here’s the caveat. Much of what we see on the front of the package belies a hidden problem. Take some of the organic snacks that do a shout-out about their 100% natural fruit without additives and preservatives, but when you examine the package more carefully, you find the product is manufactured for a US company but is a product of China.
We have talked extensively about food safety and food recalls. Why are we trusting that food safety standards are being upheld by China? We shouldn’t. A recent USDA report examined these organic certifications and questioned whether the USDA Organic certification is being properly upheld. The USDA went so far as to drop the food inspector in China. It’s time for us to do the same thing with our purchases.
Let them eat healthy fruits that are made and inspected in the US. Go with USDA Organics that fulfill the pledge without worrying that someone is sliding off the page. This is not an issue that will go away quickly.
Here are some suggestions. I’ve tried them all; these are at the top of the current, first week of camp list.
–Go with HonestKids‘ no high fructose corn syrup drinks. Easy to chill and cool ‘em down quickly.
If you worry fresh fruit will go all mushy before snack or lunch, consider these:
–Archer Farms real fruit strips.
–365 Organic Fruit Strip, or
Some without the USDA Organic label, but are USA products:
–Stretch Island Fruit all-natural fruit strip, or
Go with the new mini bars from Luna or Clif or honor the EnviroKidz Organic line.
We don’t need the sugar; definitely not the HFCS, or the worries of overseas inspections.
Our little scampers need to be safe. Food safety starts with trust.
