July Hotlunch New

Fruit & Freedom on the Fourth

Celebrate the Fourth of July with festive foods that are as nourishing as they are fun! Try making a patriotic fruit salad using star-shaped cookie cutters on watermelon, pineapple, and more—kids will love helping in the kitchen. You can also use cookie cutters on veggies, sandwiches, or even cheese slices to turn everyday foods into something special. It's a simple way to add creativity and color to your holiday spread, while giving your kids a way to participate and celebrate nutritious foods.

Summer Sweet Cravings

Many parents notice their kids craving more sugar during the summer—and it’s not just the extra popsicles and parties. Hot weather, later bedtimes, irregular meals, and excitement all influence appetite hormones and blood sugar levels, making kids more likely to seek quick energy from sweets. Strictly limiting sugar can backfire, increasing kids’ fixation on it, so a balanced, neutral approach works best. Instead of banning treats, try these strategies to help your child feel more in control and less obsessed:

Serve regular meals and snacks every 2–3 hours to stabilize blood sugar

Offer sweets without guilt, paired with meals or snacks

Pro Tip: Include a “sweet choice” daily—let your child help choose or prepare it to build trust and reduce novelty. Read Ellyn Satter’s “Family Meals Focus” for more tips and recommendations.

The Sunshine Vitamin

Vitamin D plays a vital role in kids’ bone development, immune function, and even mood regulation—yet many children don’t get enough, even in the sunny summer months. While the body can make vitamin D from sun exposure, factors like sunscreen use, time spent indoors, skin tone, and geographic location can limit how much is actually absorbed. To help meet their needs, aim to include vitamin D-rich foods like fortified milk or dairy alternatives, egg yolks, and salmon, and talk with your pediatrician about whether a supplement is needed—especially if your child is a picky eater or avoids animal products. A daily multivitamin with vitamin D can be an easy way to support your child’s levels all summer long.

SEE MORE IDEAS FOR ALL AGES BY AAP HERE

Bug Off: Protecting your Kids from Bites & Ticks

Summer adventures mean more time outside—and more exposure to mosquitoes and ticks. To help prevent bites, dress kids in lightweight long sleeves and pants when in wooded or grassy areas, use EPA-approved insect repellents, and always check for ticks after outdoor play.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SAFE PREVENTION AND REMOVAL TIPS FROM THE CDC

About HotLunch.com

HotLunch.com is the only web-based system of its kind

HotLunch.com is used by schools across North America! With HotLunch.com you can easily manage school-lunch administration, publish lunch menus online, receive payments, and reduce time spent on managing parent transactions, including fundraising, after-school care, volunteering, and much more.

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HotLunch.com Now Available in Spanish & French

Our school lunch software is now available in Spanish and French, making it easier for schools around the world to utilize our school lunch system. This update allows more families to reap the benefits of HotLunch.com.

Hotlunch.com partners to educate unprivileged girls

We are proud to partner with Ainiti.org, an organization that empowers and educates underprivileged girls through technology. Thanks to you, profits from Hotlunch.com will be used to support girls in need.

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About the author

Abbie Hebron, MS, RD, CSP, LD, CNSC

Abbie Hebron is a Registered Dietitian, specializing in pediatric nutrition (Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition). She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Missouri State University, and then attended the University of Rhode Island where she earned her master's degree. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and was the recipient of South Carolina's Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award in 2022. In her free time, Abbie enjoys baking, traveling, hiking, and playing tennis with family and friends.