Back-to-school means back-to-school lunches and a daily challenge for many parents: what to pack that’s both delicious and nutritious. Fitting a balanced meal into a lunch box or already bulging backpack is no easy task. Assuring that you’re providing food that will also tempt your kids’ taste buds while avoiding nutrition no-nos, such as
too much sugar or
sodium, but providing
sufficient calcium and protein can be daunting. Throw in a
picky eater and it’s enough to make you want to throw in the towel, or brown bag as the case may be.
We’re here to help! These tips will help ensure you’re providing a healthy lunch your children will enjoy eating and you’ll feel good about making:
- Choose whole grain breads. Whole grains will help your kids feel fuller while providing
much-needed fiber
- Choose peanut or other nut butters that contain no added sugar
- Choose low-fat or lean meats and poultry for protein
- Create visual appeal with different shapes. For sandwiches, roll the ingredients inside a tortilla or another flatbread, then cut into smaller pieces to make
little pinwheels or
use cookie cutters
- Take vegetables from “no way!” to “yes, please!” with easy-to-make and pack
vegetable sushi
- Embrace the juice box. Juice boxes aren’t evil – as long as it’s
100% fruit juice
- Get your kids involved! Letting your children help with food prep is a great way to
introduce healthy foods and motivate them to eat their own creations
School lunches can be a chore – to plan and prepare. By following these tips you can feel confident that you’re providing a lunch that both you and your kids can feel good about.