Making a healthier Back to School lunch - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(08/30/12) - Back to School lunches often means Back to School junk food.

"You think about all the things that go into peanut butter and jelly, and all the things that go into white bread. It's not good for you. It's just clogging down your system," said Chef Doug St. Souver of the Flint Farmers' Market.

Chef Doug says parents should think outside the box when it comes to making quick lunches healthier. Instead of bread, use wraps or thin bagels. Lighten everything up, beginning with low cal and low fat varieties of mayo and mustard - and choose turkey and chicken over beef.

"White lean is good. Anything with the lights," he said. "You go with the darks, you'll have an extra little inhibitor in there with the stuff in red meats. Also again with the white cheese, also very good. If they like lettuce and tomato, do it. If not, leave it off. A lot of less carbs with this."

Chef Doug believes a change or two doesn't have to get in the way of taste.

"Light mayo is going to taste the same. If you don't like the actual flavor, add a little pepper to it," he said.

And there's another big change Chef Doug recommends. Believe it or not - trade in a juice box for Gatorade.

"If you look at the ingredients, you have 23 grams of sugar for the whole box," he said. "That's 6.7 ounces. That's a little bit and a lot of sugars. This is two and a half servings, but 8 ounces of this only has 14 grams of sugar."

All of these healthy changes won't necessarily add time or drain dollars.

"You can find the deals on all of this light and healthy stuff. It's a little work, but it doesn't cost you any more," St. Souver said.