Back to School: Tips for Packing Healthy Lunches (That Your Kids will Actually Eat!)
Written by Madiha Boolani
It's almost back to school time for kids and for parents this means preparing school lunches everyday! School lunches are very important since they help fuel your child's body and provide them with energy needed to get through the rest of the day. Kids can only get those nutrients if they eat healthy snacks and finish their lunch.
Tips for making healthy school lunches
Take kids grocery shopping and allow them to pick ingredients for lunches within established boundaries. If you feel like it would be a hassle to take them to the store, ask them what they would like for lunch before heading over to the store
Use thermal containers to keep food hot and freezer containers to keep food items cool and fresh
Make sure the lunch consists of at least 3 out of the 4 essential food groups(fruits and vegetables, meat or meat alternatives, grains and dairy)
Avoid processed and pre-packaged foods
Most parents don't have the time to make lunches which is why always pre plan and try putting together the meal the night before
Allow kids to choose from healthy treats like puddings and homemade cookies so they have an incentive to eat their lunch
Packing the same lunch each day can get monotonous for kids. Try to be creative so that food is visually appealing to the child. Cut up celery, cucumber, fruits on sticks and provide hummus or jam to dip it in. Load up meat and vegetables on a skewer with berries for dessert and you will have a happy camper in school!
Let the kids pick out their own lunchboxes so they will be excited to use it.
