{"id":13663,"date":"2019-08-08T18:20:45","date_gmt":"2019-08-08T18:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/?p=13663"},"modified":"2026-01-08T19:39:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:39:07","slug":"childrens-dentist-healthy-lunches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/2019\/08\/08\/childrens-dentist-healthy-lunches\/","title":{"rendered":"The Healthy Lunches that Your Kids Will Love!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/AdobeStock_107848909__1537387783_67621-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Girl smiling\" class=\"wp-image-13664\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/AdobeStock_107848909__1537387783_67621-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/AdobeStock_107848909__1537387783_67621-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/AdobeStock_107848909__1537387783_67621.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that it\u2019s August, back to school time is just around the\ncorner! Before school starts, it\u2019s important that you check off all of the\nitems on your kids\u2019 list, and it\u2019s also a great time to make healthy\nadjustments. For the upcoming year, you can keep your kids healthy and happy by\npacking them the right school lunches. It\u2019s vital for your son or daughter\u2019s\nsmile that they eat teeth-healthy foods, which is why your children\u2019s dentist\nin Arlington Heights has put together a list of some of the best foods to pack\nyour kids during the schoolyear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is it Important to Pack Healthy Lunches for Your Kids?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cavities and tooth decay are one of the most common health problems\namong children. In fact, children miss about 51 million hours of school each\nyear due to dental issues. Plus, kids with tooth pain and cavities are more\nlikely to receive lower GPA\u2019s than those without. Also, children with dental\nproblems may be less likely to speak to their peers, which can cause confidence\nissues. This means that keeping your child\u2019s oral health in shape will help\nthem grow, develop, learn, and socially interact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are Some of the Best Foods to Pack?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some of the best foods to pack for your little\nones\u2019 school lunches according to your dentist in Arlington Heights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fruits and Veggies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Foods like apples and celery are crunchy and high in water\ncontent, which makes them act almost like natural toothbrushes. By sending your\nkids to school with these foods, you can effectively help them stay healthy and\nkeep their smile clean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Low-Fat Dairy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dairy products like plain yogurt, cheese and milk are rich\nin calcium, which can strengthen enamel, helping to protect your kids\u2019 teeth.\nThis is a great way to minimize their chance of cavities while at school\nbecause dairy also does a great job of neutralizing decay-causing acid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Almonds and Nuts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nuts and almonds are high in phosphorous and contain\nbeneficial minerals that keep teeth healthy. They are also a great source of\nprotein without giving your kids food rich in fat. Additionally, kids like\neating nuts because they are crunchy, small, and fun to consume!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tap Water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Skip the bottled water when it comes to your kids. Tap water\ncontains a beneficial mineral called fluoride, which naturally protects teeth\nfrom cavities. Water is also great for washing away sugary sweets and candies\nthat your kids know and love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that you know some of the best foods to pack for your kids\u2019\nlunch, use these tips from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/childrens-dentistry.html\">children\u2019s\ndentist<\/a> to keep their smiles happy and healthy during the school year! That\nway, they can have the confidence to interact and learn to the best of their\nability!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Westgate Dental Care, we have a team of 5 dentists who\neach bring special skills and training to our practice for truly exceptional\ndentistry. We love helping kids stay healthy, which is why we want parents to\nknow some foods to keep their smile in tip-top shape. For any questions, we can\nbe contacted through our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/contact.html\">website<\/a> or by\nphone at (847) 577-7171. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Now that it\u2019s August, back to school time is just around the corner! Before school starts, it\u2019s important that you check off all of the items on your kids\u2019 list, and it\u2019s also a great time to make healthy adjustments. For the upcoming year, you can keep your kids healthy and happy by packing them [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Lunches Can I Pack that are Healthy for My Kids&#039; Teeth?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Want to turn into a lunch packing pro? 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