Brown bags along with book bags are being packed here at the beginning of the school year. But many student lunches could be getting a failing grade.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.

Anything from decreased physical activity to unhealthy eating habits could contribute to this phenomenon.

Eating patterns that begin in elementary and middle school may encourage poor eating habits into adulthood. The American Academy of Pediatrics says childhood obesity starts in the home, and introducing healthy foods should be a top priority for parents.

Joseph Robare is a professor of public health at Slippery Rock University who directs the master's program in public health with a focus on health promotion and wellness. He also helps pack lunches for his four children ages 4 through 10.

“I think we have to focus on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Center's My Plate which is the new food guide,” he said, when preparing school lunches at home.

Robare said, “We should be serving more fruits, more vegetables, more complex carbohydrates.”

“You can do peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but remember variety is the spice of life. The more fruits and vegetables we can get them to eat, the better,” Robare said.

He recommended packing a child's lunch box with foods that are nutrient dense, vitamin packed and low in calories.

“Carrots, celery, you have to try multiple foods. Introduce them more than once,” Robare said. “You have to serve them at home, too. Have a low-fat yogurt dip with them.”

Kristina Benkeser, director of the SRU student health center, said, when it comes to packing your child's lunch, there are “all kinds of considerations taken into account. You want something they are going to eat and not trade away.”

Every school lunch from home, she said, should contain protein, perhaps in the form a sandwich containing meat, fruits and vegetables. Carbohydrates can be the bread of the sandwich.

“And water or milk. They still need several servings of milk a day. That way they are getting fluids and they are also getting proteins,” said Benkeser.

“The prepacked servings of fruit and vegetables are convenient but they are very expensive,” said Benkeser.

“So you could just set aside some time and do some prep work; put all the grapes in serving-sized bags when you get home from the store. You can do a week's worth at a time,” she said.

“Everything is OK in moderation and based on your child's taste, as long as all the food groups are represented,” she said.

“Lunch is not four grapes and six Twinkies,” she said. “But if your six-year-old will only eat bologna Lunchables every day of the week, slide some fruit in their bag.”

Robare said there are no “forbidden foods,” but parents should keep a close eye on portion sizes.

“Everything in moderation, a small portion of sweets as a treat can be offset by the portion size of it,” Robare said.

Benkeser agreed portion size is key when it comes to packing school lunches.

“Having a little lunch-size bag of Cheetos is not a crime, but a big bag is not a good idea,” she said.

But she recommends granola and energy bars as snacks, as well as “grapes just hold up, cheese sticks, little containers of hummus.”

Benkeser said the schools themselves necessarily dictate what can be brought from home to the cafeteria because of allergies.

“Some schools may forbid peanuts,” Benkeser said. “Peanut allergies have definitely increased.”

Benkeser said, “If your child has a food allergy, you are going to have to communicate that clearly with the school. A kindergartner may not do as well with food restrictions.”

“Put a note on the inside of the school lunch box: 'My lunch may look strange to you, but this is what I am allowed to eat,'” said Benkeser.

“Some children with special needs may not like certain textures, so their lunch boxes may look very odd,” she said.

Parent-child-school communication on such food issues are important.

School lunches are important, she said “because your brain needs to be well fed. You need your nutrients. Nutrition and sleep are the two most important things for your child to be academically successful.”

Robare said, “Lunch and breakfast are very important for the kids. They are learning all day, and they need fuel for the brain. They need fuel for physical activity.”

And it's important to start ingraining good nutritional habits early, Robare said.

He said, “Eating patterns begin before school age; they begin when we start eating solid foods. Starting on a well-balanced eating plan is important.”

“What we like to do at my house is, the kids help us design the dinners for the week. Sometimes my wife or I will take the children and let them pick up the fruits and vegetables.

“I know it's hard — everyone's busy — but my wife and I still believe it's important to make time to sit down at the dinner table every night.”

If your child is a picky eater, she said, be patient. It probably really is a phase.

“Tastes change; food preferences change,” Benkeser said. “What's important is a willingness to try new foods. Studies show a child will have to have five to seven experiences with a new food before they will accept it.”

Benkeser said, “If they refuse to try it, encourage them but don't force the issue because then you get into a battle of wills.”

“Children go through picky eating phases. If they want a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch every day, don't make it a big deal. Pick your battles,” said Benkeser.

Benkeser said that some people believe “picky palates are some holdover from evolution. The child that was suspicious of food was less likely to get into the poisonous plants.”

Parents could always opt to buy the lunch offered at school.

School lunches have come a long way from the days of Johnny Marzetti plopped on a tray, said Kevin Leninsky, the food service director for Nutrition Inc., which has contracted with the South Butler School District to provide 600 to 700 meals a day to the two elementary schools, middle school and high school in the district.

Leninsky said each meal is mandated to have a protein, grain, fruit, vegetable and milk component.

“There are four options for meals in the elementary schools,” Leninsky said. “The older you get, the more options you have.”

By the time a student reaches high school, he said, “We offer a full salad bar, a variety of pizzas. We have daily menu options.”

“The latest thing is a sandwich and wrap station where the students can make their own paninis,” Leninsky said.

He said South Butler students also can pick from a list of a la carte items, and breakfast is provided as well.