A couple of moms in our community started a school lunch catering business. My son's school now contracts with them to supply healthy lunches and most of the parents have signed up to buy them. They offer a couple of choices of sandwich and a hot meal every day. There is always a fruit and salad bar in case a kid is very hungry or doesn't like the main selections. Since almost all of the families participate, there is little chance to trade for Twinkies.

I'm not sure if this is the advice you were hoping for but, I fully expect my 9 year old to trade. He and I have an honor system understanding. I tell him I want him to stick to one sugar choice a day. Somedays he comes home and says "Mom, I had cookies and a fruit by the foot" to which I reply "you know I only want you to have one sugar- no more sweets tonight" . For the most part he sticks close to the rule, (as far as I know) so I haven't had to really lay down the law. Trading lunches is a right of passage it seems and it adds to the fun of school. That being said- I counter balance at home as much as possible.

Love that! How do I get that at my school? Is this expensive?

I advise parents in my nutrition practice to approach this in a couple of ways: One is complete submission and the other is to work with the school to create a "no junk food" policy. Let's start with the first: It appears that you are during a superb job at home teaching your kids about nutrition if you are filling lunch boxes with organic fruits,veggies, legumes, nut butters and nitrate free proteins. Once that lunch box leaves your car or the bus, all bets are off - and, guess what? That's okay! Rest assured that your kids are getting ample "good" nutrients to build strong minds and bodies for at least two out of the three meals per day, that cancel out that afternoon free for all food fest. Another route to take -- If you're still not satisfied, spearhead a group to petition your school to mandate a junk food free school zone. The school may be interested in the following statistics: US study finds direct link between consumption of junk food and academic performance. Eating too much fast food can affect pupils’ intelligence, seriously undermining their academic ability, according to new research. Kerri Tobin, of Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, studied the impact of a fast-food diet on the schoolwork of more than 5,500 10 and 11-year-olds. She found that those who ate higher-than-average amounts of junk food scored significantly lower than their classmates in a range of academic tests. If this approach fails, then address the environmental impact that pre-made lunches and other pre-packaged junk food and their packaging has on the planet. Now is that any way to teach our kids? >

I know it's a bit early to talk about this - but be careful at what they eat - especially your girls. Of course, I've seen a very good bulimia treatment, but it's better to be safe than sorry. I've seen many complexed women nowadays, I just like seeing healthy and happy people. Don't let your child be otherwise!